Ulnar nerve
Updates to Article Attributes
Theulnar nerve nerve is one of the terminal branches of the brachial plexus and has motor and sensory supply to the forearm and hand.
Gross anatomy
Origin
The ulnar nerve originates as a terminal branch of the medial cord of the brachial plexus with nerve root fibres from C8-T1.
Course
Arm
In the arm, the ulnar nerve runs medial to theaxillary artery and subsequently thebrachial artery on thecoracobrachialis muscle in the anterior compartment. The nerve passes to the posterior compartment through through the medial intermuscular septum distally running with the superior ulnar collateral artery. Further on, it runs between medial head oftriceps brachii muscle and the medial intermuscular septum to pass posterior to the medial humeral epicondyle in the superficial condylar groove (cubital tunnel).
Forearm
The ulnar nerve enters the forearm from the arm via the two heads offlexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscle. It subsequently lies superficial toflexor digitorum profundus and deep to FCU and medial to theulnar artery. At the wrist, the ulnar nerve runs lateral to the tendon of FCU,
Hand
The ulnar nerve enters the hand superficial to theflexor retinaculum and inside Guyon's canal. Then it divides into its terminal branches at the level of the pisiform bone.
Prior to passing the flexor retinaculum at the wrist, the ulnar nerve gives off the dorsal cutaneous branch.
Branches
Terminal branches
- palmar cutaneous branch
- branch
toto palmaris brevis - superficial terminal branch
- deep terminal branch
Supply
The ulnar nerve has both sensory and motor supply:
- motor - forearm flexors, intrinsic hand muscles
- sensory -
- articular innervation to elbow, wrist, carpal and phalangeal joints
- cutaneous innervation to ulnar aspect of the hand, 5th finger, medial 4th finger
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>ulnar nerve </strong>is one of the terminal branches of the <a href="/articles/brachial-plexus">brachial plexus</a> and has motor and sensory supply to the <a href="/articles/forearm">forearm</a> and <a href="/articles/hand">hand</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin</h5><p>The ulnar nerve originates as a terminal branch of the medial cord of the brachial plexus with nerve root fibres from C8-T1.</p><h5>Course</h5><h6>Arm</h6><p>In the arm, the ulnar nerve runs medial to the <a href="/articles/axillary-artery">axillary artery</a> and subsequently the <a href="/articles/brachial-artery">brachial artery</a> on the <a href="/articles/coracobrachialis">coracobrachialis muscle</a> in the anterior compartment. The nerve passes to the posterior compartment through the medial intermuscular septum distally running with the superior ulnar collateral artery. Further on, it runs between medial head of <a href="/articles/triceps-brachii">triceps brachii muscle</a> and the medial intermuscular septum to pass posterior to the medial humeral epicondyle in the superficial condylar groove (<a href="/articles/cubital-tunnel">cubital tunnel</a>).</p><h6>Forearm</h6><p>The ulnar nerve enters the forearm from the arm via the two heads of <a href="/articles/flexor-carpi-ulnaris">flexor carpi ulnaris</a> (FCU) muscle. It subsequently lies superficial to <a href="/articles/flexor-digitorum-profundus-1">flexor digitorum profundus</a> and deep to FCU and medial to the <a href="/articles/ulnar-artery">ulnar artery</a>. At the wrist, the ulnar nerve runs lateral to the tendon of FCU,</p><h6>Hand</h6><p>The ulnar nerve enters the hand superficial to the <a href="/articles/flexor-retinaculum">flexor retinaculum</a> and inside <a href="/articles/guyon-s-canal">Guyon's canal</a>. Then it divides into its terminal branches at the level of the pisiform bone.</p><p>Prior to passing the flexor retinaculum at the wrist, the ulnar nerve gives off the dorsal cutaneous branch. </p><h4>Branches</h4><h5>Terminal branches</h5><ul>- +<p>The <strong>ulnar nerve </strong>is one of the terminal branches of the <a href="/articles/brachial-plexus">brachial plexus</a> and has motor and sensory supply to the <a href="/articles/forearm">forearm</a> and <a href="/articles/hand">hand</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin</h5><p>The ulnar nerve originates as a terminal branch of the medial cord of the brachial plexus with nerve root fibres from C8-T1.</p><h5>Course</h5><h6>Arm</h6><p>In the arm, the ulnar nerve runs medial to the <a href="/articles/axillary-artery">axillary artery</a> and subsequently the <a href="/articles/brachial-artery">brachial artery</a> on the <a href="/articles/coracobrachialis">coracobrachialis muscle</a> in the anterior compartment. The nerve passes to the posterior compartment through the medial intermuscular septum distally running with the superior ulnar collateral artery. Further on, it runs between medial head of <a href="/articles/triceps-brachii">triceps brachii muscle</a> and the medial intermuscular septum to pass posterior to the medial humeral epicondyle in the superficial condylar groove (<a href="/articles/cubital-tunnel">cubital tunnel</a>).</p><h6>Forearm</h6><p>The ulnar nerve enters the forearm from the arm via the two heads of <a href="/articles/flexor-carpi-ulnaris">flexor carpi ulnaris</a> (FCU) muscle. It subsequently lies superficial to <a href="/articles/flexor-digitorum-profundus-1">flexor digitorum profundus</a> and deep to FCU and medial to the <a href="/articles/ulnar-artery">ulnar artery</a>. At the wrist, the ulnar nerve runs lateral to the tendon of FCU,</p><h6>Hand</h6><p>The ulnar nerve enters the hand superficial to the <a href="/articles/flexor-retinaculum">flexor retinaculum</a> and inside <a title="Guyon's canal" href="/articles/guyons-canal">Guyon's canal</a>. Then it divides into its terminal branches at the level of the pisiform bone.</p><p>Prior to passing the flexor retinaculum at the wrist, the ulnar nerve gives off the dorsal cutaneous branch. </p><h4>Branches</h4><h5>Terminal branches</h5><ul>
-<li>branch to <a href="/articles/palmaris-brevis">palmaris brevis</a>- +<li>branch to <a href="/articles/palmaris-brevis">palmaris brevis</a>
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