706 



THE NEEVOUS SYSTEM. 



municates with a similar branch of the ulnar nerve. This branch is not always 

 present. 



Branches in the Hand. In the hand the median nerve gives off its terminal 

 branches. These are muscular and cutaneous. 



The main muscular branch arises just distal to the transverse carpal ligament and 

 passes to the base of the thenar eminence ; entering the ball of the thumb super- 

 ficially on the medial side, it supplies branches to the abductor pollicis brevis, 

 opponens pollicis, and the flexor pollicis brevis. 



RADIAL 



(R. SUPERFICIALIs) 



MEDIAN " 



OSTERIOR ] 1 



UTANE.OUS } 



FARM J \ / \ 



(MEDIAL 

 CUTANEOUS 

 OF ARM 



f INTERCOSTO- 

 \BRACHIAL 



MUSCULO- 

 CUTANEOUS) 



(MEDIAL 



/ < CUTANEOUS 



I OF FOREARM 



VOLAR BR. (MEDIAN) 

 VOLAR BR. (ULNAR) 

 ULNAR 



FIG. 617. THE DISTRIBUTION OF CUTANEOUS NERVES ON THE FRONT OF THE ARM AND HAND. 



(B) is a schematic representation of the areas supplied by the above nerves, the lettering indicating the spinal 

 oTigin of the branches of distribution to each area. V. A.L., Ventral axial line. 



The cutaneous branches are five in number. Three separate branches supply each 

 side of the thumb and the lateral side of the index finger. The two remaining 

 branches (nn. digitales volares communes) subdivide at the cleft between the 

 second and third, and the third and fourth fingers respectively, into branches 

 (nn. digitales volares proprii) which supply the adjacent sides of the second and 

 third, and the third and fourth fingers. From the nerves which supply j 

 respectively the lateral side of the index finger, and the contiguous sides of the; 

 index and third fingers, fine muscular branches arise for the first two lumbrical; 

 muscles. The cutaneous branches of the median nerve are placed in the palni! 

 between the superficial palmar arch and the flexor tendons. They become super- i 



