Benedict’s hand is due to injury to –
**Core Concept**
Benedict's hand, also known as thenar eminence atrophy, is a clinical sign that occurs due to the denervation of the muscles of the thenar eminence. This region of the hand is primarily innervated by the median nerve.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The median nerve provides motor innervation to the muscles of the thenar eminence, including the abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis. Injury to the median nerve can result in weakness or paralysis of these muscles, leading to the characteristic atrophy of the thenar eminence, known as Benedict's hand. This is a result of the median nerve's role in controlling these muscles, which are essential for thumb movement and opposition.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** The ulnar nerve primarily innervates the intrinsic muscles of the hand, excluding the thenar eminence, and is responsible for the innervation of the interosseous and lumbrical muscles of the hand.
**Option C:** The axillary nerve primarily provides motor innervation to the deltoid and teres minor muscles, and is not involved in the innervation of the hand.
**Option D:** The radial nerve primarily provides motor innervation to the extensor muscles of the forearm and is not involved in the innervation of the thenar eminence.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Benedict's hand is a classic clinical sign of median nerve injury and should be considered in patients with hand weakness or atrophy, particularly those with a history of trauma or compression to the median nerve.
**Correct Answer:**
β Correct Answer: B. Median nerve