Summary
The incidence of Martin-Gruber anastomosis was studied. Anatomical dissection of 108 cadaveric arms was performed. The Martin-Gruber anastomosis was found in 23 arms. This anastomosis was classified into four types: Type Ia: Communication between the anterior interosseous and the ulnar nn. (n=13), Type Ib: Communication between the median and ulnar nn. (n=1), Type II: Communication between muscular branches of the flexor digitorum profundus m. (n=8), Type III: Combination of Type Ia or Ib and Type II (n=1). The incidence of Martin-Gruber anastomosis was found to be significantly higher in the present study than in previous studies.
Résumé
La fréquence de l'anastomose de Martin-Gruber a été étudiée sur les dissections de 108 membres supérieurs de cadavres. L'anastomose a été trouvée 23 fois. Cette anastomose est classée en 4 types : type Ia : anastomose entre le nerf interosseux antérieur et le nerf ulnaire (n=13) ; type Ib : anastomose entre le nerf médian et le nerf ulnaire (n=1) ; type II : anastomose entre les rameaux musculaires du m. fléchisseur profond des doigts (n=8); type III : combinaison du type Ia ou Ib et du type II (n=1). La fréquence de l'anastomose de Martin-Gruber apparait plus élevée que dans les travaux précédents.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cliffton EE (1948) Unusual innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the hand by median and ulnar nerve. Surgery 23: 12–31
Gruber W (1970) Über die Verbindung des Nervus medianus mit dem Nervus ulnaris am Unterarm des Menschen und der Säugetiere. Arch Anat Physiol 37: 501–522
Gutmann L (1977) Median-ulnar nerve communication and carpal tunnel syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 40: 982–986
Hirasawa K (1931) Untersuchungen über das periphere Nervensystem, Plexus brachialis und die Nerven der oberen Extremitäten. Arb Anat Inst Kaiserlichen Univ Kyoto A2: 135–137
Hollihshead WH (1967) Anatomy for surgeons, Vol 3. The back and limbs, 2nd edn. Harper & Row, New York, p 420
Iyer V, Fenichel GM (1976) Normal median nerve proximal latency in carpal tunnel syndrome: a clue to coexisting Martin-Gruber anastomosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 39: 449–452
Kaplan EB (1984) Kaplan's functional and surgical anatomy of the hand. Nerve supply to the muscles and skin of the hand, 3rd edn. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 238–241
Mannerfelt L (1966) Studies on the hand in ulnar nerve paralysis. A clinical-experimental investigation in normal and anomalous innervation. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 87: 23–142
Martin R (1763) Tal om Nervus allmanna Egenskaperi Mannisikans kropp. Lars Salvius, Stockholm (cited from Mannerfelt)
Ohkubo K, Itami Y, Murota K, Fujii K, Morita S, Kato S (1976) Anatomical study of anastomosis between the median and ulnar nerves in the forearm (Martin-Gruber anastomosis). (in Japanese) Orthopedic Surg 27: 1244–1248
Ranschburg P (1917) Über die Anastomosen der oberen Extremität des Menschen mit Rücksicht auf ihre neurologische und nervenchirurgische Bedeutung. Neurol Zentralbl 13: 521
Rowntree T (1949) Anomalous innervation of the hand muscles. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 31-B: 505–510
Sunderland S (1978) Nerves and nerve injuries, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh London, pp 656–690
Thomson A (1983) Third annual report of the committee of collective investigation of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland for the year 1891–1892. J Anat 27: 183–194
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nakashima, T. An anatomic study on the Martin-Gruber anastomosis. Surg Radiol Anat 15, 193–195 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627703
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627703