One of the main nerves of the arm. It is a branch of the brachial plexus and runs down the arm from the shoulder into the hand. The median nerve controls the muscles that carry out bending movements of the wrist, fingers, and thumb, and that rotate the forearm palm-inwards. The nerve also conveys sensations from the thumb and first 3 fingers, and from the region of the palm at their base. Damage to the nerve may result from injury to the shoulder, a Colles’ fracture just above the wrist, or pressure on the nerve where it passes through the wrist ( carpal tunnel syndrome). Symptoms of damage include numbness and weakness in areas controlled by the nerve.
Median nerve |
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