Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve (internal cutaneous nerve, medial cutaneous nerve of forearm, also sometimes misspelled "antibrachial") arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus.
It derives its fibers from the eighth cervical and first thoracic nerves, and at its commencement is placed medial to the axillary artery.
It gives off, near the axilla, a filament, which pierces the fascia and supplies the integument covering the Biceps brachii, nearly as far as the elbow.
The nerve then runs down the ulnar side of the arm medial to the brachial artery, pierces the deep fascia with the basilic vein, about the middle of the arm, and divides into a volar and an ulnar branch.
Volar branch
The volar branch (ramus volaris; anterior branch), the larger, passes usually in front of, but occasionally behind, the vena mediana cubiti (median basilic vein).
It then descends on the front of the ulnar side of the forearm, distributing filaments to the skin as far as the wrist, and communicating with the palmar cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve.
Ulnar branch
The ulnar branch (ramus ulnaris; posterior branch) passes obliquely downward on the medial side of the basilic vein, in front of the medial epicondyle of the humerus, to the back of the forearm, and descends on its ulnar side as far as the wrist, distributing filaments to the skin.
It communicates with the medial brachial cutaneous, the dorsal antibrachial cutaneous branch of the radial, and the dorsal branch of the ulnar.
See also
- Dorsal antibrachial cutaneous nerve
- Lateral antibrachial cutaneous nerve
- Medial brachial cutaneous nerve
Additional images
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Brachial plexus -
Cross-section through the middle of upper arm. -
Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. -
The brachial artery. -
Cutaneous nerves of right upper extremity. Anterior view. -
Cutaneous nerves of right upper extremity. Posterior view.
External links
- Template:NormanAnatomy, Template:NormanAnatomy
- Template:DukeOrtho
- Template:EatonHand
- Template:SUNYAnatomyFigs - "Cutaneous nerves of the upper extremity."
- Template:EMedicineDictionary
- Template:KansasHandKinesiology