Adductor pollicis is supplied by ?
**Core Concept:**
Adductor pollicis is a muscle of the thumb that allows it to be brought towards the palm. It plays a crucial role in hand function. The thumb's adduction is facilitated by the adductor pollicis muscle, which is innervated by specific nerves.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**
The adductor pollicis muscle is primarily innervated by the ulnar nerve (C8, T1), one of the three main divisions of the brachial plexus. The ulnar nerve originates from the cervical spinal cord and extends to the hand, supplying motor and sensory neurons to various muscles and tissues in the hand, including the adductor pollicis.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. The median nerve (C5, C6, C7, and C8) supplies the flexor pollicis longus muscle, which is involved in extending the thumb, not adduction.
B. The radial nerve (C5, C6, and C7) primarily supplies the muscles of the forearm, not the thumb muscles like adductor pollicis.
C. The sensory fibers of the ulnar nerve contribute to the sensory innervation of the thumb, but the motor innervation is provided by the motor fibers of the ulnar nerve, not the sensory fibers.
D. The phrenic nerve, which supplies the diaphragm, is not involved in thumb innervation.
**Clinical Pearl:**
Understanding the anatomy and innervation of the upper limb muscles is crucial for various clinical scenarios, including assessing nerve injuries, interpreting electromyography (EMG) tests, and interpreting clinical signs like the Finkelstein's test and Tinel's sign.
**Correct Answer:** C. The sensory fibers of the ulnar nerve innervate the thumb's sensory receptors, contributing to the sensation of touch, temperature, and pain in the thumb. However, the motor innervation for the adductor pollicis muscle comes from the motor fibers of the ulnar nerve, not the sensory fibers.