Quick Facts
Origin: Ulnar nerve.
Course: Descends along with the main nerve trunk, crosses over the flexor retinaculum and reaches the medial palmar region.
Branches: None.
Supply: Skin over hypothenar eminences.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The palmar branch of ulnar nerve arises from the main trunk of the nerve proximal to the flexor retinaculum. It contains nerve fibers which relay sensory information to the C8, T1 cervical and thoracic segments of the spinal cord.
Course
Following its origin from the ulnar nerve in the forearm, the palmar cutaneous branch descends along with the main nerve trunk. It crosses over the flexor retinaculum to reach the skin over the hypothenar eminence (medial palmar region) (Engber and Gmeiner, 1980).
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The palmar branch of the ulnar nerve provides cutaneous innervation to the medial palm (over the hypothenar eminence).
References
Engber, W. D. and Gmeiner, J. G. (1980) 'Palmar cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve', J Hand Surg Am, 5(1), pp. 26-9.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
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.
