Quick Facts
Origin: Ulnar nerve above the wrist (C8-T1).
Course: Descends with the main trunk of ulnar nerve and divides into three dorsal digital nerves.
Branches: None.
Supply: Medial half of the dorsum of hand and medial two and half fingers.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The dorsal branch arises from the main trunk of the ulnar nerve about 5 cm above the radiocarpal (wrist) joint. It contains sensory nerve fibers for the C8-T1 spinal segments.
Course
The dorsal branch of ulnar nerve descends with the main trunk of ulnar nerve almost to the pisiform bone. Here it passes backwards to divide into three (and sometimes two) dorsal digital nerves.
Branches
The dorsal branch of ulnar nerve gives rise to three dorsal digital nerves.
Supplied Structures
The dorsal digital nerves (from the dorsal branch) provide cutaneous innervation to the skin of the medial half of the back of hand and the skin of the dorsal aspect of the medial two and half fingers. Note that the terminal parts of the dorsal aspect of the digits are supplied by the median nerve.
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Ulnar Nerve
The ulnar nerve is a mixed nerve that originates from the C8 and T1 nerve roots and exits the brachial plexus as a terminal branch of the medial cord.
