Palmar branch of the median nerve

The palmar branch of the median nerve is a branch of the median nerve which arises at the distal part of the forearm.

Palmar branch of the median nerve
Nerves of the left upper extremity.
Superficial palmar nerves.
Details
From	median nerve
Identifiers
Latin	ramus palmaris nervi mediani
TA98	A14.2.03.036
TA2	6462
FMA	44836
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Branches

It pierces the palmar carpal ligament, and divides into a lateral and a medial branch;

• The lateral branch supplies the skin over the ball of the thumb, and communicates with the volar branch of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve.
• The medial branch supplies the skin of the palm and communicates with the palmar cutaneous branch of the ulnar.

Clinical significance

Unlike most of the median nerve innervation of the hand, the palmar branch travels superficial to the Flexor retinaculum of the hand. Therefore, this portion of the median nerve usually remains functioning during carpal tunnel syndrome.

Additional images

• 
  Diagram of segmental distribution of the cutaneous nerves of the right upper extremity.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 938 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

• http://nervesurgery.wustl.edu/NerveImages/Anatomy%20and%20Physiology/AP-Median-Nerve---IMG_3299.jpg