If median nerve is injured at the wrist then loss of function of all of the following will take place except?
**Core Concept**
The median nerve is a mixed nerve that supplies the anterior (front) compartment of the forearm and the palmar surface of the hand, providing motor and sensory innervation to various structures. Damage to the median nerve at the wrist can result in a range of clinical consequences, including weakness and paralysis of muscles and sensory deficits.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The median nerve innervates the thenar muscles (thumb muscles) except for the adductor pollicis, which is innervated by the ulnar nerve. The thenar muscles include the abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis. These muscles are responsible for thumb abduction, flexion, and opposition. In contrast, the median nerve does not innervate the adductor pollicis, which is responsible for thumb adduction.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This muscle is innervated by the median nerve, responsible for thumb flexion.
**Option B:** This muscle is innervated by the median nerve, responsible for thumb opposition.
**Option C:** This muscle is innervated by the median nerve, responsible for thumb abduction.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It's essential to remember that the median nerve does not innervate the adductor pollicis muscle, which can help differentiate median nerve damage from ulnar nerve damage in the hand.
**Correct Answer: D. Adductor pollicis.**