ULNAR NERVE. 269 



b. The posterior ulnar recurrent branch (W), of larger size than the 

 anterior, is inclined beneath the flexor sublimis muscle to the interval 

 between the inner condyle and the olecranon. There it passes with the 

 ulnar nerve between the attachments of the flexor carpi ulnaris, and joins 

 the ramifications of the inferior profunda and anastomotic arteries on the 

 inner side of the elbow joint. Some of its offsets enter the muscles, and 

 others supply the articulation and the ulnar nerve. 



c. The interosseovs branch is a short thick trunk, about an inch long, 

 which is directed backwards towards the interosseus membrane, and divides 

 into anterior and posterior interosseous : these branches will be afterwards 

 followed. 



I d. The metacarpal branch arises from the artery near the lower end of 

 the ulna, and runs along the metacarpal bone of the little finger, of which 

 it is the inner dorsal branch. 



e. The carpal branches (anterior and posterior) ramify on the front and 

 back of the carpus, on which they anastomose with corresponding offsets 

 of the radial artery, and form arches across the wrist. 



Peculiarities of the ulnar artery. The origin of the artery may be transferred to 

 any point of the main vessel in the arm or axilla. Once the origin was found 

 between two and three inches below the elbow. (Quain.) 



When it begins higher than usual it is generally superficial to the flexor 

 muscles at the bend of the elbow (only one exception, Quain), but beneath the 

 aponeurosis of the forearm ; though sometimes it is subcutaneous with the super- 

 ficial veins. 



The ULNAR NERVE (fig. 81, 4 ) enters the forearm between the attach- 

 ments of the flexor carpi ulnaris to the olecranon and inner condyle of the 

 humerus. Under cover of that muscle the nerve reaches the ulnar artery 

 about the middle (in length) of the forearm, and is con-tinned on the inner 

 side of the vessel to the hand. On the annular ligament the nerve is rather 

 deeper than the artery. It furnishes articular, muscular, and cutaneous 

 branches as below : 



a. Articular nerves. In the interval between the olecranon and the 

 inner condyle, slender filaments to the joint arise. 



b. Muscular branches. It furnishes offsets near the elbow to two 

 muscles of the forearm ; one enters the upper part of the flexor carpi 

 ulnaris, and the other supplies the inner half of the flexor profundus 

 digitorum. 



c. Cutaneous nerve of the forearm and hand. About the middle of the 

 forearm arises a small palmar branch ( 8 ), which courses on the ulnar 

 artery, sending twigs around that vessel, to the end in the integuments of 

 the palm of the hand : sometimes a cutaneous offset perforates the aponeu- 

 rosis near the wrist, and joins the internal cutaneous nerve. 



d. The dorsal cutantous nerve of the hand arises about two inches above 

 the end of the ulna, and passes obliquely backwards beneath the flexor 

 carpi ulnaris : perforating the aponeurosis it is lost on the back of the hand 

 and fingers (p. 262). 



The MEDIAN NERVE (fig. 81, a ) leaves the hollow of the elbow between 

 the heads of origin of the pronator teres, and takes the middle line of the 

 limb to the hand. It is placed beneath the flexor sublimis as low as two 

 inches from the annular ligament, where it becomes superficial along the 

 outer border of the tendons of that muscle. Lastly the nerve passes be- 

 neath the annular ligament to the palm of the hand. The nerve supplies 



