THE UPPER LIMB 



373 



between the middle and ring fingers, where it also divides into 

 two collateral digital nerves, which supply their contiguous sides. 

 In its course it communicates with the outer digital branch of the 

 ulnar nerve. In the palm the digital nerves lie beneath the super- 

 ficial palmar arch and its digital branches, but along the sides of 

 the fingers the nerves are superficial to the arteries. Occasionally 

 a digital artery may pass through a digital nerve. On the sides 

 of the fingers the nerves, which present small swellings, called 

 Pacinian bodies, give branches to the integument of the palmar 

 aspects of the finger,, and the metacarpo-phalangeal and inter- 

 phalangeal joints. At the extremities of the fingers each nerve 



Ulnar ; 



Median \ 



Anterior Branch of Musculo-cutaneoii< '^ 



Deep Branch of Ulnar -,iy 1 



Branches to Hypothenar Muscle.<: ■/-^: 



Branches to 2 J Thenar Muscles 



Branch to ist Lumbricalis ''' 

 Branch to 2nd Lumbricalis.'' 



Branch connecting Mediar. '' 

 and Ulnar 



Fig. 200. — Diagram of the Nerves of the Palm. 



nds in branches for the pulp and matrix of the nail. The digital 

 lerves also give branches which turn backwards to the dorsal aspects 

 f the fingers. These, for the most part, supply the integument 

 s follows : (i) the matrix of the thumb-nail ; (2) the back of the 

 Jrminal phalanx of the index finger ; (3) the back of the second 

 nd terminal phalanges of the middle finger ; and (4) the back of the 

 ^rminal, and distal end of the second, phalanges of the ring finger. 



Summary of the Median Nerve. — Muscular. — It supplies (i) all the muscles 

 1 the front of the forearm, except the flexor carpi ulnaris and inner portion 

 the flexor profundus digitorum; {2) two and a half muscles of the thenar 

 ninence, namely, the abductor, opponent;, and superficial head of the 

 ;xor brevis, poUicis ; and (3) the outer two lumbricales. Cutaneous. — It 

 iipplies the outer part of the palm, and the outer three and a half digits. 

 rticular. — It supplies branches to the elbow- and wrist-joints, as weU as to 

 : al joints of the hand. 



