Quick Facts
Origin: Median nerve (C6—C8).
Course: Proximal to the flexor retinaculum, the palmar branch arises and runs above the retinaculum.
Branches: No named branches.
Supply: Skin over thenar eminence and lateral two thirds of the palm.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The palmar branch originates from the median nerve above the flexor retinaculum and contains nerve fibers which carry sensory information to the C6-C8 segments of the cervical spinal cord.
Course
Inside the cubital fossa, the median nerve lies medial to the brachial artery and deep to bicipital aponeurosis. The nerve exits the cubital fossa, passes between the two heads of the pronator teres and between the humeroulnar and radial heads of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. It descends distally down the forearm between the flexor digitorum superficialis and the flexor digitorum profundus muscle. Before the nerve enters the carpal tunnel, it gives off a palmar (or volar) branch, immediately above the flexor retinaculum. This cutaneous branch crosses over the flexor retinaculum to reach the skin over the thenar eminence and palm region.
Branches
No named branches.
Supplied Structures
The palmar branch of the median nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin over the thenar eminence and the lateral two thirds of the palm.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Median Nerve
The median nerve is a terminal branch nerve of the brachial plexus formed from the medial and lateral cords.
