Introduction: Neurovascular variations in the upper limb are common and they are well documented. An accurate knowledge of the normal and the variant anatomy of the median nerve and the median artery are important for clinical procedures and for vascular surgeries. The persistant median artery is one such anomaly which was seen in 6.6% (4) of the 60 upper limbs which were dissected in the present study, it being bilateral in one cadaver. Material and Methods:The present study was conducted on 60 upper limbs of 30 cadavers at the Government Medical College, Amritsar, India. The whole course of the median nerve and the persistant median artery was exposed. Results:In all the 4 variant limbs, the persistent median artery originated from the anterior interrosseous artery and terminated in the incomplete mediano-ulnar type of the superficial palmar arch. In three upper limbs, the persistant median artery simply accompanied the median nerve upto the palm. But in the left upper limb of the cadaver with the bilateral variation, the artery penetrated and divided the nerve into two halves which joined to form a neural loop around the artery. Thereafter, the nerve and the artery followed the same course upto the palm. Such a penetration of the median nerve by the persistent median artery is extremely rare. Further, its ontogeny and clinical implications have been discussed in detail.

To conclude, in North Indian population, the Martin-Gruber anastomosis is encountered in 11.6% limbs.

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction: Inadvertant injury to median nerve during carpal tunnel surgery can be minimized if anatomy is understood, variations recognized and adequate exposure is achieved. Adequate decompression of compromised structure and preservation of recurrent motor branch are of paramount concern in carpal tunnel surgery. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted on 60 upper limbs of 30 well embalmed adult human cadavers at the Government Medical College, Amritsar. The whole course of the thenar branch of median nerve was exposed. Aim of Study: Aim of the study was to understand normal pattern of thenar nerve including variations in its formation and in its branching pattern which would form useful data for hand surgeons doing open/endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Results: We found variations of thenar nerve in 18 (30%) out of 60 hands. Accessory thenar nerve was found in 5 (8.3%) hands, origin of thenar nerve in carpal tunnel in 12 (20%) hands, multiple thenar branches was seen in 1 (1.8%) hand. Clinical Significance: The variations of median nerve in hand and their incidence will aid the surgeon in avoiding iatrogenic complications and improve the success rate of median nerve decompressions.