Applied anatomy of median nerve and its superficial muscular branches in forearm

Objective To measure the anatomical data of the superficial muscular branches of the median nerve in the forearm and provide the morphological evidence for the repair of the damaged median nerve in the forearm.Methods By the method of the anatomical dissection, the superficial muscular branches of the median nerves from 30 upper extremities of adult cadavers were measured and observed anatomically.Results There are four types of the superficial muscular branches of the median nerve in the forearm, including 1 branch, 2 branches, 3 branches and 4 branches.Of all, the number of the branches to the pronator teres (87%) is 3, the number of the branches to the flexor digitorum superficialis (90%) is 4, the number of the branches to the flexor carpi radialis (96.7%) and the palmaris longus (96.7%) is 1.The superficial muscular branches of the median nerve are located in 4%～65% of the forearm.Conclusion The results confirm the danger location of the median nerve in the forearm.Meantime, this study discusses the type of the muscular branches which could be transferred with the blood vessel and muscle.