An immunohistochemical study of palmar and plantar digital nerves

Abstract

We present a qualitative and semi-quantitative description of palmar and plantar digital nerves obtained from cadavers prepared for routine class dissection. The fingertips of the three most functionally important and sensitive digits, namely thumb, index and middle fingers, received more myelinated axons than those of the ring and little fingers. In both palmar and plantar nerves the numbers of myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive myelinated axons decreased proximodistally along each digit and also from thumb to little finger and hallux to little toe respectively. Our results suggest that there are up to ten times more myelinated axons in palmar digital nerves than in plantar nerves.