What is the distribution of the median nerve?
The median nerve is a sensory and motor nerve of the arm (or upper limb). It arises from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus, originating in the spinal cord, and runs through the anterior portion of the arm and forearm before finishing its path at the hand and digits (fingers).
What does median nerve innervate in hand?
Hand. In the hand, the median nerve supplies motor innervation to the first and second lumbrical muscles. It also supplies the muscles of the thenar eminence by a recurrent thenar branch. The rest of the intrinsic muscles of the hand are supplied by the ulnar nerve.
Where is the median nerve located in the hand?
forearm
The Median Nerve extends along the middle of the arm and forearm to the hand. It arises by two roots, one from the lateral and one from the medial cord of the brachial plexus; these embrace the lower part of the axillary artery, uniting either in front of or lateral to that vessel.
What part of the hand is affected by median nerve compression?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of your hand. When the median nerve is compressed, the symptoms can include numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and arm.
What is median nerve?
The median nerve, colloquially known as the “eye of the hand,” is one of the three major nerves of the forearm and hand. It courses from the brachial plexus in the axilla to innervate the intrinsic muscles of the hand.
What nerve Innervates the thumb and index finger?
In the hand, the median nerve supplies the thenar eminence — the muscles at the base of the thumb — with nerves. It also supplies nerves to the lumbrical muscles to the index and middle fingers. The median nerve provides sensation to the thumb side of the palm, the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.
What nerves supply hands?
The hand is innervated by 3 nerves — the median, ulnar, and radial nerves — each of which has sensory and motor components. The muscles of the hand are divided into intrinsic and extrinsic groups.
Where can median nerve be compressed?
Compression of the median nerve usually occurs at the elbow, in the forearm or at the wrist. Although the most common site of median nerve compression is at the wrist, various etiologies have been reported for compression neuropathy of the median nerve.
What fingers are affected by the median nerve?
It happens when there is increased pressure within the wrist on a nerve called the median nerve. This nerve provides sensation to the thumb, index, and middle fingers, and to half of the ring finger. The small finger (the “pinky”) is typically not affected.
Which fingers are affected by carpal tunnel?
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent numbness or tingling in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some people with CTS say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent.
What is median nerve decompression?
The median nerve is decompressed in the forearm. A Z-plasty lengthening is performed on the pronator teres tendon. In addition, the tendon of the deep head of the pronator teres is transected and the flexor digitorum superficialis tendinous arch is released.
What does the median nerve affect?
The median nerve predominantly provides motor innervation to the flexor muscles of the forearm and hand as well as those muscles responsible for flexion, abduction, opposition, and extension of the thumb.
What is the median nerve in the hand responsible for?
The nerve has a motor and sensory function through the forearm and parts of the hand. It innervates many of the muscles in the forearm and controls muscles in the hand. The median nerve is responsible for feeling in part of the hand as well as the thumb and first three fingers.
What is the main function of the median nerve?
The median nerve has two critical functions. The first is to provide information about sensations from a specific location in the hand back to the brain. The second major function is to provide information from the brain to be delivered to muscles of the forearm and hand telling them to contract.
What is the course of the median nerve?
Course of the Median Nerve. Median nerve continues down the arm with brachial artery, when it initially lies lateral to the artery, and later crosses over to lie medial to it around halfway down the arm. Next, it passes within medial part of the antecubital fossa within the two heads of the pronator teres muscle .
What is the median nerve problem?
When the median nerve is compressed, the symptoms can include numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and arm . The anatomy of your wrist, health problems and possibly repetitive hand motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome . Proper treatment usually relieves the tingling and numbness and restores wrist and hand function.