Cutaneous Innervation of the Palmar Aspect of the Hand

Abstract

The median and ulnar nerves carry cutaneous sensory fibers for the skin of the palmar side of the hand. The distribution of cutaneous nerves on the dorsum varies according to authors of anatomy textbooks and atlases. Gray's Anatomy, Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy, Grant's Atlas of Anatomy, and Netter's Atlas cite variations of cutaneous nerve distribution on the dorsum of the hand. Description of the cutaneous distribution on the palmar side of the hand does not vary between these different sources. The median nerve supplies the palmar side of fingers 1–3 and the lateral side of finger 4, while the ulnar nerve supplies the palmar side of finger 5 and medial side of finger 4. This project examined the palmar cutaneous distribution of both left and right hands in a group of cadavers and did not discover any variations from the typical description. Future studies will explore cutaneous distribution on the dorsum of the hand.Support or Funding InformationSupported and funded by the Department of Biology and Mathematics of D'Youville College, Buffalo, NY