| Ulnar nerve | |
|---|---|
 Click image to enlarge - ulnar nerve is visible in lower left | |
 Nerves of the left upper extremity. (Ulnar labeled at center left.) | |
| Details | |
| From | C8, T1 (branch from medial cord) |
| Innervates | Flexor carpi ulnaris flexor digitorum profundus lumbrical muscles opponens digiti minimi flexor digiti minimi abductor digiti minimi interossei adductor pollicis |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus ulnaris |
| MeSH | D014459 |
| TA98 | A14.2.03.040 |
| TA2 | 6449 |
| FMA | 37319 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The ulnar nerve is a nerve that runs near the ulna, one of the two long bones in the forearm. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest in the human body unprotected by muscle or bone, so injury is common.[1] This nerve is directly connected to the little finger, and the adjacent half of the ring finger, innervating the palmar aspect of these fingers, including both front and back of the tips, perhaps as far back as the fingernail beds.
This nerve can cause an electric shock-like sensation by striking the medial epicondyle of the humerus posteriorly, or inferiorly with the elbow flexed. The ulnar nerve is trapped between the bone and the overlying skin at this point. This is commonly referred to as bumping one's "funny bone".[2] This name is thought to be a pun, based on the sound resemblance between the name of the bone of the upper arm, the humerus, and the word "humorous".[3] Alternatively, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, it may refer to "the peculiar sensation experienced when it is struck".[4]
- ^ N, Catena; Mg, Calevo; D, Fracassetti; D, Moharamzadeh; C, Origo; M, De Pellegrin (2019). "Risk of Ulnar Nerve Injury During Cross-Pinning in Supine and Prone Position for Supracondylar Humeral Fractures in Children: A Recent Literature Review". European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology: Orthopedie Traumatologie. 29 (6): 1169–1175. doi:10.1007/s00590-019-02444-0. PMID 31037406. S2CID 139108013. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- ^ "Ulnar Nerve Entrapment - Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists". 7 July 2019.
- ^ Hendrickson, Robert A. (2004). The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins (Facts on File Writer's Library). New York: Checkmark Books. p. 281. ISBN 0-8160-5992-6.
- ^ "Welcome to the new OED Online: Oxford English Dictionary". Dictionary.oed.com. Retrieved 2012-03-20.