Muscular Branch of Median Nerve to Flexor Digitorum Profundus (Right)

Origin

The median nerve gives off an anterior antebrachial interosseous nerve, which is the main branch of the median nerve in the forearm. The muscular branch to the flexor digitorum profundus contains motor neurons from the C8—T1 cervical spinal segments.

Course

After passing between the two heads of pronator teres muscle, the median nerve descends beneath the fibrous arch of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle, on the surface of the flexor digitorum profundus. Here, in the upper part of the forearm, the median nerve gives off a deep branch called the anterior antebrachial interosseous nerve which innervates the deep muscles in the anterior compartment of the forearm as it descends on the surface of the interosseous membrane. The muscular branches given off from the anterior interosseous nerve are issued to the following muscles: flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum profundus, and pronator quadratus.

The muscular branch of the median nerve to the flexor digitorum profundus innervates the lateral part of it, i.e., the muscle bellies to the middle and index fingers. Note that the medial part of flexor digitorum profundus, i.e., the muscle bellies to the little and ring fingers, are innervated by the ulnar nerve. However, the anatomical data regarding the territory of these two nerves has still not been strictly demarcated (Bhadra, Keith and Peckham, 1999).

Branches

There are no named branches.

Supplied Structures

The muscle branch of median nerve to flexor digitorum profundus provides motor innervation to the lateral half of flexor digitorum profundus muscle (to the index and long fingers).

References

Bhadra, N., Keith, M. W. and Peckham, P. H. (1999) 'Variations in innervation of the flexor digitorum profundus muscle', J Hand Surg Am, 24(4), pp. 700-3.