Pointing finger is due to injury to which nerve?
**Core Concept**
The question tests the knowledge of the motor innervation of the hand, specifically the muscles responsible for finger movement. The primary nerve responsible for finger movement is the median nerve, which provides motor innervation to the thenar muscles and the lateral two lumbricals.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer involves the understanding of the motor function of the median nerve. The median nerve innervates the abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis muscles of the thenar eminence. These muscles are responsible for thumb movement, but the question specifically asks about finger movement. However, the median nerve also innervates the lateral two lumbricals, which are responsible for flexion of the 2nd and 3rd fingers at the metacarpophalangeal joints. Injury to the median nerve can lead to weakness or paralysis of these muscles, resulting in a characteristic "pointing finger" deformity.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** The ulnar nerve is primarily responsible for the motor innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, except for the lateral two lumbricals. It innervates the adductor pollicis, flexor digitorum profundus (4th and 5th digits), and the medial two lumbricals. Injury to the ulnar nerve would result in a different pattern of weakness or paralysis.
* **Option B:** The radial nerve is responsible for the motor innervation of the wrist and finger extensors, but it does not innervate the intrinsic muscles of the hand. Injury to the radial nerve would result in weakness or paralysis of wrist and finger extension.
* **Option D:** The musculocutaneous nerve is responsible for the motor innervation of the biceps brachii, brachialis, and coracobrachialis muscles. It does not innervate the muscles of the hand or forearm. Injury to the musculocutaneous nerve would result in weakness or paralysis of elbow flexion.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The "pointing finger" deformity is a characteristic sign of median nerve injury, particularly in the context of carpal tunnel syndrome. It is essential to consider this deformity when evaluating patients with suspected median nerve compression or injury.
**Correct Answer: C. Median nerve.