Open AccessUltrasonographic evaluation of the median nerve: normal and variant anatomy and appearance
Author(s) -
Kitija Nulle,
Aija Jaudzema
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of ultrasonography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.146
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2451-070X
pISSN - 2084-8404
DOI - 10.15557/jou.2021.0053
Subject(s) - medicine , median nerve , forearm , brachial plexus , cutaneous nerve , anatomy , entrapment neuropathy , carpal tunnel , sensory nerve , epineurial repair , magnetic resonance neurography , carpal tunnel syndrome , sensory system , surgery , radiology , sciatic nerve , magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , cognitive psychology
The median nerve is a mixed sensory and motor nerve that innervates part of theflexor muscles in the anterior compartment of the forearm and muscles in the lateralpart of the hand; palmar cutaneous and digital cutaneous nerves branch from the mediannerve, which provides sensory innervation to the skin on the radial side of the palm.Also, the median nerve is an object of interest because neuropathy of the median nerveat the level of the carpal tunnel is the most common entrapment neuropathy whichincreases dramatically in patients with diabetes. Neuromuscular ultrasound providesextensive diagnostic information and has proved itself as a useful complementary test toelectrodiagnostic examinations in cases involving median nerve neuropathy. It oftenhappens that the cause of nerve entrapment and neuropathy are variants of severalanatomical structures along the course of the median nerve. It is important to be awareand report such anatomical variations of the median nerve in order to avoid damaging thenerve during surgical treatment. Despite the frequently documented abnormalities in thepathway of the brachial plexus and the median nerve, the anatomical variations areunusual to see and are rarely reported. Moreover, there are variations that do not fitunder any of the classifications described in the literature.