Proper palmar digital nerves of ulnar nerve

Proper palmar digital nerves of ulnar nerve

Diagram of the ulnar nerve and its branches.
Latin	nervi digitales palmares proprii nervi ulnaris

The proper palmar digital nerves of the ulnar nerve are important sensory nerves in the hand. They are responsible for providing sensation to the skin of the medial one and a half fingers on the palmar side, which includes the little finger and the medial half of the ring finger.

Anatomy

The proper palmar digital nerves are terminal branches of the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve itself is a major peripheral nerve of the upper limb, originating from the brachial plexus. It travels down the arm and forearm, passing through the cubital tunnel at the elbow and the Guyon's canal at the wrist.

In the hand, the ulnar nerve divides into superficial and deep branches. The superficial branch further divides into the common palmar digital nerves, which then split into the proper palmar digital nerves. These nerves run along the sides of the fingers, providing sensory innervation to the skin.

Function

The primary function of the proper palmar digital nerves of the ulnar nerve is to convey sensory information from the skin of the medial one and a half fingers to the central nervous system. This includes sensations of touch, pain, and temperature.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the ulnar nerve, such as from ulnar nerve entrapment or injury, can lead to sensory deficits in the areas supplied by the proper palmar digital nerves. Patients may experience numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the little finger and half of the ring finger.

Also see

• Ulnar nerve
• Brachial plexus
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Guyon's canal syndrome
• Common palmar digital nerves