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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Functional and Physiological Methods of Evaluating Median Nerve Regeneration in the Rat
Published on: April 18, 2020
Innervation pattern of the pronator teres muscle
Selman M Demirci1, Mehmet Alp, Tania Marur
1Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty of Cerrahpasa, University of Istanbul, Fatih 34098, Istanbul, Turkey. selmand@istanbul.edu.tr
Objective:
To determine the innervation patterns of the pronator teres muscle (PTM), which is used as a donor in muscle transfer.
Methods:
This study was conducted from 2001-2006 at the Anatomy Department of the Medical Faculty of Cerrahpasa, University of Istanbul. There were 34 upper extremities of 17 fixed adult cadavers dissected.
Results:
The classical pattern of innervation by the superior and inferior branches of the median nerve was observed in 19 of the cases (55.9%). In 4 forearms (11.8%) one branch in 10 (29.4%), 3 branches (2 humeral, 1 ulnar) and in one (2.9%), 4 branches (3 humeral, 1 ulnar) were found to be innervating the muscles.
Conclusion:
In all cases, the humeral and ulnar head of the PTM was innervated separately. These variations are of great importance during transfer of PTM.
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