Proper palmar digital nerves of median nerve

Proper palmar digital nerves of median nerve

Diagram of segmental distribution of the cutaneous nerves of the right upper extremity. (Proper palmar digital nerves of median nerve labeled at bottom right.)
Latin	nervi digitales palmares proprii nervi mediani

The proper palmar digital nerves of the median nerve are terminal branches of the median nerve, which is one of the major nerves of the upper limb. These nerves are responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin of the palmar side of the lateral three and a half fingers, which includes the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the lateral half of the ring finger.

Anatomy

The median nerve originates from the brachial plexus, specifically from the lateral and medial cords. It travels down the arm and forearm, passing through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. Upon emerging from the carpal tunnel, the median nerve divides into several branches, including the common palmar digital nerves. These common palmar digital nerves further divide into the proper palmar digital nerves.

The proper palmar digital nerves run along the sides of the fingers, providing sensory innervation to the palmar surfaces and the nail beds of the lateral three and a half fingers. They are crucial for the sensation of touch, pain, and temperature in these areas.

Function

The primary function of the proper palmar digital nerves is to convey sensory information from the skin of the fingers to the central nervous system. This includes sensations such as touch, pressure, pain, and temperature. The proper functioning of these nerves is essential for fine motor skills and tactile discrimination, which are important for tasks such as writing, typing, and handling small objects.

Clinical significance

Damage to the median nerve, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome, can affect the proper palmar digital nerves, leading to sensory deficits in the fingers they innervate. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb, index, middle, and lateral half of the ring finger. In severe cases, there may be a loss of sensation and difficulty in performing tasks that require fine motor skills.

Also see

• Median nerve
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Brachial plexus
• Ulnar nerve
• Radial nerve

References

• Gray's Anatomy (public domain text)