Roots
- C6 – T1. (Also contains fibres from C5 in some individuals).
Motor Functions
- Flexor muscles in the forearm
- Thenar muscles
- Two lateral lumbricals associated with the index and middle fingers.
Sensory Functions
- Gives off the palmar cutaneous branch, which innervates the lateral part of the palm, and the digital cutaneous branch, which innervates the lateral three and a half fingers on the anterior (palmar) surface of the hand.

Median Nerve in the Axilla

Formed at lower border of Axilla by union of medial and lateral cords of the Brachial Plexus
Axillary Artery clasped between 2 cords
- Medial cord crosses in front of vessel
Nerve commences lateral to the Axillary artery

Median Nerve in the Arm

Lies in front of Brachial Artery as it passes distally in arm
Lies medial to Brachial Artery and posterior to the Bicipital Aponeurosis at the elbow joint
Supplies: Sympathetic branches to Brachial Artery
Supplies: May give branch to Pronator Teres above elbow joint
In the Cubital Fossa, supplies:
- Pronator Teres
- Flexor Carpi Radialis
- Palmaris Longus
- Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
- Elbow joint
- Proximal Radioulnar joint

Leaves the Cubital Fossa by passing between the 2 heads of Pronator Teres
Passes deep to the fibrous arch of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
Runs distally adherent to posterior aspect of FDS
Deep to FDS, gives off Anterior Interosseous Nerve Branch
- Runs down with Anterior Interosseous Artery
  - Supplies:
    - Flexor Digitorum Profundus (index and middle finger bellies)
    - Flexor Pollicis Longus
    - Pronator Quadratus
    - Inferior Radioulnar joint
    - Wrist and Carpal joints
Above the wrist, comes closer to the surface between tendons of Flexor Carpi Radialis and Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
- Lies behind and partially lateral to tendon of Palmaris Longus
Passes through the Carpal Tunnel into the hand
- Above the Flexor Retinaculum, gives off Palmar Branch to the skin over the Thenar muscles

Gives Muscular (Recurrent) Branch
- Recurves around distal border of Flexor Retinaculum to supply 3 x thenar muscles
  - Abductor Pollicis Brevis
  - Flexor Pollicis Brevis
  - Opponens Pollicis
Gives Palmar Digital Branches
- Supplies:
  - Skin of the flexor surfaces and nail beds of radial three and a half digits and corresponding area of palm
  - 2 x radial Lumbrical muscles

Origin
- C6 – T1
- Continuation of the medial and lateral cords
Motor Functions
- Flexor muscles in the forearm
- LOAF - Thenar muscles, Two lateral lumbricals
Sensory Functions
- Palmar cutaneous branch and the digital cutaneous branch
Course
- Axilla
  - Formed at lower border of Axilla by union of medial and lateral cords of the Brachial Plexus
  - Axillary Artery clasped between 2 cords
- Arm
  - Lies in front of Brachial Artery as it passes distally in arm
  - In the cubital fossa it lies medial to Brachial Artery and posterior to the Bicipital Aponeurosis
- Forearm
  - Leaves the Cubital Fossa by passing between the 2 heads of Pronator Teres
  - Passes deep to the fibrous arch of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis to run between FDS and FDP in the forearm
  - Two branches
    - Anterior Interosseous Nerve Branch
      - Deep flexor muscles
    - Palmer cutaneous nerve
- Wrist
  - Passes through the Carpal Tunnel into the hand
  - Gives Muscular (Recurrent) Branch - thener muscles
  - Gives Palmar Digital Branches - cutaneous + 2 x radial Lumbrical muscles