Sensory Communication of the Median and Ulnar Nerves in the Palm

A communicating branch between the median and superficial ulnar nerve in the palm of the hand has
been described, but its relationship to the cutaneous anatomy of the hand has had little emphasis. Fifty
preserved cadaveric hands were dissected. A communicating branch was found in 37 of 50 specimens.
In 34 specimens, the connecting branch proceeded from the ulnar nerve to enter the median nerve
distally; in three specimens it proceeded from the median nerve to reach the ulnar nerve distally. This
study describes the communicating branch in relation to the distal crease of the wrist with the axis of the
third webspace and fifth ray as the radial and ulnar borders, respectively. This study may aid surgeons in
determining the likelihood of injury in trauma or during various surgical procedures. (Journal of Surgical
Orthopaedic Advances 16(4):192–195, 2007)