Median nerve

Arm

After its formation from the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus, the median nerve descends down the centre of the arm in a superficial course. Initially it is lateral to the brachial artery but as it descends it eventually becomes medial. It gives no branches in the arm.

Forearm

Just before it enters the forearm, the median nerve passes between the tendons of biceps brachii and brachialis. At this point it becomes lateral to the brachial artery. Next, in order to gain access to the forearm, it passes between the deep and superficial heads of the pronator teres muscle. Once it passes this point it dives deeper and runs between the flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis. It gives: 

• muscular branches to pronator teres, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor carpi radialis
• the anterior interosseus nerve
• the cutaneous nerve of the palm

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The anterior interosseous nerve supplies the flexor pollicis longus and radial part of flexor digitorum profundus. This branch runs on the interosseous membrane with anterior interosseous artery passes deep to the pronator quadratus and supplies it. It terminates by giving articular branches to the distal radio ulnar, radiocarpal and carpal joints. It also supplies to the proximal part of the palm, via the palmar cutaneous branch. This branch does not enter the carpal tunnel and is hence spared in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Hand

Median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel beneath the flexor retinaculum, and divides to form two common palmar digital nerves, the first of which supplies the radial two lumbricals and a common branch between the index and middle fingers. The second runs between the ring and middle finger, and divides to give the proper digital nerves. The branch also provides sensation to the radial three and a half fingers on their palmar aspect as well as the nail beds of the index, middle and half the ring finger, via the proper digital nerves.

The median nerve also gives off a recurrent branch to the muscles of the thenar eminence (flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis). It is also known as the ‘million dollar nerve’ to signify its importance for basic hand function. The reason it is referred to as the recurrent branch is due to the course it takes. It wraps around the flexor pollicis brevis and then arches back to pass into the thenar eminence. This does not include adductor pollicis, which although moves the thumb is not a part of the thenar eminence and is supplied by a deep branch of the ulnar nerve.