Ulnar nerve

The ulnar nerve is a major peripheral nerve of the upper limb, originating from the medial cord of the brachial plexus and carrying fibers from the C8 and T1 nerve roots. It is responsible for providing motor innervation to the flexor carpi ulnaris, the medial half of the flexor digitorum profundus, and most of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, facilitating complex movements and grip strength. Sensorial, it supplies the medial side of the hand, including the fifth digit and the ulnar half of the fourth digit. The nerve is clinically significant due to its high susceptibility to entrapment and compression, particularly at the cubital tunnel in the elbow and Guyon's canal in the wrist, leading to ulnar neuropathy and functional deficits. While not a molecular target itself, pharmacological management of its pathologies involves neuropathic pain medications like gabapentinoids and local anesthetics used for regional nerve blocks.

Other names

Nervus ulnarisFunny boneCubital nerve

Drugs associated with the ulnar nerve typically manage symptoms of neuropathy or induce regional anesthesia. Local anesthetics inhibit voltage-gated sodium channels to block nerve conduction. Gabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin) modulate the alpha-2-delta subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels to reduce neurotransmitter release, while antidepressants like duloxetine inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine to enhance descending inhibitory pain pathways.