title: Anatomical variability and histological structure of the ulnar nerve in the Guyon's canal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of our study was to analyze the prevalence of variations, branching patterns, and histology of the ulnar nerve (UN) in Guyon's canal to address its importance in hand surgery, particularly decompression of the UN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty fresh cadavers were dissected bilaterally, and the nerve in the area of Guyon's canal was visualized. Samples for histology were also taken and prepared. The collected data were then analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphometric measurements of the hands and histological studies were not found to have significant differences when compared by left or right side or by sex. Three major branching patterns were found, with division into deep and superficial UN being the most common (85%). Additional findings included a majority (70%) presenting with a cutaneous branch within the canal and/or with an anastomosis of its distant branches with those of the median nerve (57%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The UN is most commonly found to divide into a superficial and deep ulnar branch within Guyon's canal. However, additional branches and anastomoses are common and should be taken into careful consideration when approached during surgery in the area, particularly during decompression procedures of Guyon's canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Depukat
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Brandon Michael
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Popieluszko
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joyeeta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konopka
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland. krtomaszewski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Krzysztof A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 12 Kopernika St, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walocha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Anatomy; Branching; Guyon’s canal; Histology; Ulnar canal; Ulnar nerve; Variations