Soma Sekher Rupanagudi, Vanisree S. K.Jayamma C. H
BACKGROUND Median nerve is one of the most important terminal branches of the brachial plexus. Anatomical variations in the formation of the median nerve are common and have been reported by several authors. METHODS Dead foetuses from Government General Hospital, Kurnool were collected within 10 hrs after death. All the foetuses were stillborn at different stages of gestations. Depending on the size of foetus, 10% formalin was injected either into the vessels or into the abdominal cavity, thoracic cavity and into the cranial cavity. After embalming, these foetuses were immersed in buckets containing 10% formalin. Dissection of foetuses was taken up 48 hrs. after embalming so that all the tissues are fixed and firm. To expose the brachial plexus and median nerve a systematic dissection procedure was adopted. RESULTS In the present study, the following variations were observed in the arms of two different foetuses: In specimen no. F12 and specimen no. F39- in left upper limb, an abnormal communication was seen between musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve (figure 1), (figure 2). In the present study, an abnormal innervation by a muscular branch of median nerve to the flexor digiti minimi muscle of hypothenar eminence was observed in specimen no. F. 26 right upper limb (Figure 3). CONCLUSIONS A detailed knowledge of the median nerve with its variations helps surgeon to plan for reconstructive surgery of hand in situations like crush injury, birth injury, malignancy, compression of median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome which is now a frequent occurrence in computer professionals.
