ulnar nerve
- Noun:
- A major peripheral nerve of the upper limb: The ulnar nerve is one of the three main nerves in the arm. It runs along the inner side (medial side) of the arm, passes behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus bone at the elbow, and continues down into the forearm and hand.
- Primary function: It provides motor function (movement) to many of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, which control fine finger movements. It also provides sensory function (feeling) to the skin on the medial side of the hand, including the little finger and half of the ring finger.
- Noun:
- Hitting your "funny bone" actually means compressing your ulnar nerve against the bone at your elbow.
- Damage to the ulnar nerve can cause weakness in the hand and a loss of sensation in the little and ring fingers.
- The surgeon carefully avoided the ulnar nerve during the procedure.
"Ulnar nerve entrapment" or "Ulnar neuropathy": A condition where the ulnar nerve is compressed or irritated, often at the elbow (cubital tunnel) or wrist (Guyon's canal), leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- His ulnar nerve entrapment required physical therapy to alleviate the symptoms.
"Ulnar nerve palsy": Paralysis or weakness resulting from injury to the ulnar nerve.
- The patient developed an ulnar nerve palsy after the fracture.
Ulnar (adj): Pertaining to the ulna (the bone on the inner side of the forearm) or the medial aspect of the arm/hand.
- The ulnar artery runs alongside the ulnar nerve.
Cubital tunnel: The passage at the elbow through which the ulnar nerve travels; a common site of compression.
- Guyon's canal: A tunnel in the wrist through which the ulnar nerve enters the hand.
- Funny bone nerve (informal, colloquial): A common informal term referring specifically to the part of the ulnar nerve near the elbow.
- Cubital nerve (less common clinical term): Refers to the ulnar nerve in the context of the cubital region (elbow).
To have a tingling ulnar nerve: To experience paresthesia (pins and needles sensation) due to nerve irritation.
- Leaning on my elbow for too long gives me a tingling ulnar nerve.
Ulnar nerve transposition: A surgical procedure to move the ulnar nerve to a new location to prevent compression.
- He underwent an ulnar nerve transposition to relieve chronic pressure.
- 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