(ON BOTH SIDES) Expose and identify the intermediate muscles of the anterior compartment of the forearm. (G 2.64B;N 433;Gl 26.10B)
- Cut the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis muscles near the wrist. Be sure to leave an identifiable stump of the flexor carpi radialis tendon. Blunt dissect under the two muscles and reflect them toward their proximal attachments (medial epicondyle of humerus).
- Identify the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and its four tendons. Tug on the tendons and observe which fingers flex.
- Blunt dissect under the distal aspect of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. Identify the median nerve between the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and the underlying flexor digitorum profundus muscle. Occasionally the median nerve is difficult to locate because it is encased in the deep fascia of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle.
Important Relationships
- The median nerve enters the forearm by passing between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle.
- In the forearm, the median nerve is positioned posterior (deep) to the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle.
