Ulnar nerve

Overview

arises from medial cord of brachial plexus (C8, T1)

Motor to

medial two lumbricals
aDductor pollicis
interossei
hypothenar muscles: abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi
flexor carpi ulnaris

Sensory to

medial 1 1/2 fingers (palmar and dorsal aspects)

Path

the ulnar nerve travels through the posteromedial aspect of the upper arm to the flexor compartment of the forearm
it then enters the palm of the hand via the Guyon's canal, superficial to the flexor retinaculum and lateral to the pisiform bone

Branches

Branch	Supplies
Muscular branch	Flexor carpi ulnaris Medial half of the flexor digitorum profundus
Palmar cutaneous branch (Arises near the middle of the forearm)	Skin on the medial part of the palm
Dorsal cutaneous branch	Dorsal surface of the medial part of the hand
Superficial branch	Cutaneous fibres to the anterior surfaces of the medial one and one-half digits
Deep branch	Hypothenar muscles All the interosseous muscles Third and fourth lumbricals Adductor pollicis Medial head of the flexor pollicis brevis

Patterns of damage

Damage at wrist

'claw hand' - hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joints and flexion at the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the 4th and 5th digits
wasting and paralysis of intrinsic hand muscles (except lateral two lumbricals)
wasting and paralysis of hypothenar muscles
sensory loss to the medial 1 1/2 fingers (palmar and dorsal aspects)

Damage at elbow

as above (however, ulnar paradox - clawing is more severe in distal lesions)
radial deviation of wrist

+PassMedicine Notes

Overview

arises from medial cord of brachial plexus (C8, T1)

Motor to

medial two lumbricals
aDductor pollicis
interossei
hypothenar muscles: abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi
flexor carpi ulnaris

Sensory to

medial 1 1/2 fingers (palmar and dorsal aspects)

Path

the ulnar nerve travels through the posteromedial aspect of the upper arm to the flexor compartment of the forearm
it then enters the palm of the hand via the Guyon's canal, superficial to the flexor retinaculum and lateral to the pisiform bone

swb103.png#http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar nerve

Branches

Branch_Supplies| Muscular branch_ Flexor carpi ulnaris Medial half of the flexor digitorum profundus| Palmar cutaneous branch (Arises near the middle of the forearm)_Skin on the medial part of the palm| Dorsal cutaneous branch_Dorsal surface of the medial part of the hand| Superficial branch_Cutaneous fibres to the anterior surfaces of the medial one and one-half digits| Deep branch_ Hypothenar muscles All the interosseous muscles Third and fourth lumbricals Adductor pollicis Medial head of the flexor pollicis brevis|

Patterns of damage

Damage at wrist

'claw hand' - hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joints and flexion at the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the 4th and 5th digits
wasting and paralysis of intrinsic hand muscles (except lateral two lumbricals)
wasting and paralysis of hypothenar muscles
sensory loss to the medial 1 1/2 fingers (palmar and dorsal aspects)

Damage at elbow