Martin-Gruber communicating branch: anatomical and histological study

We dissected 72 upper limbs of fresh cadavers and found 17 cases with a Martin-Gruber communicating branch (23.6%). These were classified into 4 types: type I (n = 5, 29.4%): communicating branch between the anterior interosseous and ulnar nn, type II (n = 3, 17.6%): Communicating branch between the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) 1999, Vol.21 (2), p.115-118
Main Authors: Shu, H S, Chantelot, C, Oberlin, C, Alnot, J Y, Shao, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Forearm - innervation
Humans
Male
Median Nerve - anatomy & histology
Middle Aged
Ulnar Nerve - anatomy & histology
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Summary:We dissected 72 upper limbs of fresh cadavers and found 17 cases with a Martin-Gruber communicating branch (23.6%). These were classified into 4 types: type I (n = 5, 29.4%): communicating branch between the anterior interosseous and ulnar nn, type II (n = 3, 17.6%): Communicating branch between the median and ulnar nn., type III (n = 3, 17.6%): Communicating branch between the muscular branches to the flexor digitorum profundus m., type IV (n = 6, 35.3%): combination of type I or II and type III. At histologic examination the number and size of the nerve bundles each communicating branch contained proved to be very different. In one case of type II only a single nerve bundle was found. We suggest that the different numbers of nerve bundles innervate different amounts of the intrinsic hand musculature. The communicating branch with a single nerve bundle probably innervated only the first dorsal interosseous muscle.
ISSN:0930-1038
1279-8517
DOI:10.1007/s00276-999-0115-9