Definition

1. Noun:
   • A major nerve of the upper limb: The nervus ulnaris is one of the three main nerves in the arm. It runs along the inner side (medial side) of the arm, passes behind the elbow in a groove known as the "funny bone" or "crazy bone" area, and continues into the forearm and hand. It provides motor function to many of the small muscles in the hand responsible for fine movements and supplies sensation to the skin on the medial side of the hand, including the little finger and half of the ring finger.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • An injury to the nervus ulnaris can cause numbness in the little finger.
  • The surgeon carefully avoided the nervus ulnaris during the procedure.
  • Compression of the nervus ulnaris at the elbow is a common condition.

Advanced Usage

• "Ulnar nerve entrapment": A medical condition where the nervus ulnaris is compressed, often at the elbow (cubital tunnel) or wrist (Guyon's canal), leading to symptoms like tingling, numbness, or weakness.
  • The patient was diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment after complaining of hand weakness.

Variants and Related Words

• Ulnar nerve (n): The common English name for the nervus ulnaris. This term is used almost exclusively in everyday and medical English.
  • He hit his ulnar nerve on the table, causing a sharp, tingling sensation.
• Funny bone (n, informal): A colloquial term for the area around the elbow where the ulnar nerve is close to the surface and unprotected, making it susceptible to impact.
  • Ouch! I just hit my funny bone.

Synonyms

• Ulnar nerve: This is the direct and primary synonym.

Related Phrases

• To hit one's funny bone: To experience a sudden, sharp, tingling pain from an impact to the area of the elbow where the ulnar nerve is superficial.
  • She accidentally hit her funny bone on the doorframe.

Noun

1. a nerve running along the inner side of the arm and passing near the elbow; supplies intrinsic muscles of the hand and the skin of the medial side of the hand