The nerves in your hand are primarily located in the wrist area and then branch out to provide sensation throughout the hand and fingers. Two major nerves that travel through the wrist are the ulnar nerve and the median nerve.
The Ulnar Nerve
The ulnar nerve plays a vital role in hand function. Key details about its path include:
- The ulnar nerve crosses the wrist.
- It passes through a specific area called Guyon's canal.
- From there, it branches out to provide sensation to:
- The entire little finger.
- Half of the ring finger.
The Median Nerve
Another crucial nerve for hand function is the median nerve. Here’s its path:
- The median nerve crosses the wrist.
- It passes through a tunnel called the carpal tunnel.
Summary of Nerve Locations in the Hand
| Nerve | Location | Areas of Sensation |
|---|---|---|
| Ulnar Nerve | Crosses the wrist through Guyon's canal | Little finger and half of the ring finger |
| Median Nerve | Crosses the wrist through carpal tunnel | (Not specified in the provided reference) |
Understanding the location of these nerves is essential because it helps identify the areas of the hand that can be affected if a nerve is damaged or compressed, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve) or cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve).
