study of the ulnar nerve and artery in Guyon's canal in human

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 16 adult cadaveric hands. They were dissected to study the anatomy of the ulnar nerve and artery in Guyon's canal and to detect any variations in their superficial and deep branches. There were variations in the site of division of the ulnar nerve. In ten cases, it was divided into superficial and deep branches at the beginning of the canal at the level of pisiform bone. In three cases, the nerve was divided proximal to pisiform bone and in the remaining three cases, it was divided distal to pisiform bone. Also, there were variations in the branching pattern of the ulnar nerve. In most of the cases, it was divided into superficial and deep branches. Only in two cases, it was divided into medial and lateral branches either at the onset of the canal or in the distal forearm, about 1.5 cm proximal to pisiform bone. The ulnar artery was divided mostly after its entry into the canal, where it gave its deep branch[es] within the canal in 14 cases, distal to the canal in one case or both within and distal to the canal in one case. As regard to the superficial division of the ulnar artery, there was variation in only one case