Dorsal digital branches of ulnar nerve

Rami digitales dorsales nervi ulnaris

  • Latin synonym: Nervi digitales dorsales ulnares manus
  • Synonym: Ulnar dorsal digital nerves of hand
  • Related terms: Dorsal digital nerves of hand; Dorsal digital nerves; Dorsal digital nerves (Ulnar nerve)

Definition

The dorsal branch (ramus dorsalis manusarises about 5 cm. above the wrist; it passes backward beneath the Flexor carpi ulnaris, perforates the deep fascia, and, running along the ulnar side of the back of the wrist and hand, divides into two dorsal digital branches; one supplies the ulnar side of the little finger; the other, the adjacent sides of the little and ring fingers. It also sends a twig to join that given by the superficial branch of the radial nerve for the adjoining sides of the middle and ring fingers, and assists in supplying them. A branch is distributed to the metacarpal region of the hand, communicating with a twig of the superficial branch of the radial nerve.On the little finger the dorsal digital branches extend only as far as the base of the terminal phalanx, and on the ring finger as far as the base of the second phalanx; the more distal parts of these digits are supplied by dorsal branches derived from the proper volar digital branches of the ulnar nerve.

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