Dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve: a light and electron microscopy histometric study

Author(s)

Oliveira, Adriana L. C. R. D. ^[1] ; Fazan, Valeria P. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Marques, Jr., Wilson ^[1] ; Barreira, Amilton A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Neurosci, BR-14049900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Surg & Anat, BR-14049900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; v. 16, n. 2, p. 98-101, JUN 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

This study describes the normal morphology and morphometry of the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve (DCBU) in humans. Fourteen nerves of eight donors were prepared by conventional techniques for paraffin and epoxy resin embedding. Semiautomatic morphometric analysis was performed by means of specific computer software. Histograms of the myelinated and unmyelinated fiber population and the G-ratio distribution of fibers were plotted. Myelinated fiber density per nerve varied from 5,910 to 10,166 fibers/mm(2), with an average of 8,170 +/- 393 fibers/mm(2). The distribution was bimodal with peaks at 4.0 and 9.5 mu m. Unmyelinated fiber density per nerve varied from 50,985 to 127,108, with an average of 78,474 +/- 6, 610 fibers/mm(2), with a unimodal distribution displaying a peak at 0.8 mu m. This study thus adds information about the fascicles and myelinated and unmyelinated fibers of DCBU nerves in normal people, which may be useful in further studies concerning ulnar nerve neuropathies, mainly leprosy neuropathy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/06362-8 - Ultrastructural morphological evaluation of renal nerve alterations in experimentally induced diabetic rats
• Grantee: Valéria Paula Sassoli Fazan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research