Intraneural connective tissue proliferation of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel.
Segments from the median nerve were removed from the distal fourth of the right forearm and the carpal tunnel area of 23 embalmed human cadavers (12 men, 11 women) to evaluate the proliferation of the intraneural connective tissue and its intrinsic vasculature. The findings suggest that: (1) The proliferative increase of the intraneural connective tissue, primarily, the epineurial layers, is a localized characteristic of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel; (2) this increase in a normal occurrence in males and females; and (3) thicker-walled arterioles and venules are common in the highly dense epineurial tissue; this condition, regarded as an adjunct protective feature, could oppose increased intratunnel pressure and lessen the chances of vascular collapse.
D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D012737:Sex Factors