The palmar cutaneous nerve is a sensory branch of the median nerve that arises in the distal wrist.
It supplies cutaneous innervation to the skin of the lateral palm and thenar eminence.
Course
The palmar cutaneous nerve arises from the radial aspect of the median nerve in the distal wrist (~5cm proximal to the wrist crease).
It then courses distally, travelling between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.
As the nerve reaches the flexor retinaculum, it moves superficially and pierces the deep fascia to reach the palmar surface.
The nerve then divides into terminal branches to supply the lateral aspect of palm and thenar eminence.
Fig 1 – The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve arises in the distal wrist the supplies innervation to the skin of the lateral palm
Supply
The palmar cutaneous branch of median nerve supplies cutaneous innervation to the skin over the lateral palm and thenar eminence.
