Anat Cell Biol.  2018 Mar;51(1):66-69. 10.5115/acb.2018.51.1.66.

Unusual bilateral sensory innervation of the dorsum of hand by lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve: a case report

• Neha
• Krishna H

• KMID: 2418397
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2018.51.1.66

Abstract

A 68-year-old male cadaver showed bilateral variation in the sensory innervation of the dorsum of hand. On the dorsum of right hand, first digit and lateral half of second digit were supplied by lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LABCN); medial side of second digit and lateral side of third digit were supplied by superficial branch of radial nerve (SBRN) and medial side of third digit, the fourth and fifth digits were supplied by dorsal cutaneous branch of ulnar nerve (DBUN). On the dorsum of the left hand, lateral side of first digit was supplied by LABCN, medial side of first digit, the second and third digits as well as the lateral side of fourth digit were supplied by SBRN; medial side of fourth digit and fifth digit were supplied by DBUN. These variations would be helpful in understanding peripheral neuropathy, in interpretation of conduction velocity studies and in reconstructive surgery of hand.

Keyword

Superficial branch of radial nerve; Dorsal cutaneous branch of ulnar nerve; Antebrachial cutaneous branch; Dorsum of hand; Cutaneous innervations

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cadaver
Hand*
Humans
Male
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Radial Nerve
Ulnar Nerve

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Common pattern of cutaneous supply on dorsum of the right hand. (B, C) The various pattern of cutaneous supply on dorsum of hand seen on the right and left hand respectively in the present study. SBRN, superficial branch of radial nerve; LABCN, lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve; DBUN, deep branch of ulnar nerve.

• 

  Fig. 2 Photographs of dorsal view of the right hand (A) and the left hand (B) showing cutaneous innervation. 1, tendon of brachioradialis; 2, extensor carpi radialis longus tendon; 3, lateral antebrachial cutaneous branch; 4, superficial branch of radial nerve.

• 

  Fig. 3 (A) Photograph showing the dorsal view of right hand from radial aspect. 1, lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LABCN) innervates the first digit and lateral half of second digit; 2, superficial branch of radial nerve (SBRN) innervates medial side of second digit and lateral side of third digit. (B) Photograph showing the dorsal view of right hand from ulnar aspect. 3, dorsal cutaneous branch of ulnar nerve (DBUN) innervates medial side of third digit, fourth and fifth digits. (C) Photograph showing the dorsal view of left hand from radial aspect. 1, LABCN innervates lateral half of the first digit; 2, SBRN innervates medial side of first digit, the second and third digits as well as the lateral side of fourth digit were supplied by SBRN. (D) Photograph showing the dorsal view of left hand from ulnar aspect. 3, DBUN innervates medial side of fourth digit and the fifth digit.

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