Struthers' ligament and associated median nerve variations in a cadaveric specimen

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Surgical Anatomy
• Human cadaveric study

Background:

• The Ligament of Struthers is an anatomical structure in the human arm.
• Its clinical significance, particularly in relation to neurovascular structures, is not fully understood.
• Cadaveric studies are crucial for detailed anatomical descriptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the anatomical relationships of a Ligament of Struthers in a cadaveric arm.
• To investigate its association with adjacent bony and muscular structures.
• To identify any potential surgical implications, especially concerning the median nerve.

Main Methods:

• Detailed dissection and examination of a single cadaveric arm.
• Identification and description of the Ligament of Struthers.
• Documentation of its anatomical relationships with the supracondylar process, pronator teres muscle, median nerve, and medial epicondyle.
• Comparison with existing literature on normal anatomical variants.

Main Results:

• The Ligament of Struthers was identified and its precise anatomical course documented.
• Specific relationships were noted with the rudimentary supracondylar process, pronator teres muscle, and medial epicondyle.
• A significant finding was the association of the ligament with abnormally proximal branching of the median nerve.

Conclusions:

• The Ligament of Struthers can have significant anatomical variations.
• Its presence may be linked to aberrant median nerve branching patterns.
• This finding has potential surgical relevance for procedures involving the distal humerus and median nerve.