clinical examination

Last reviewed 01/2018

The clinical examination of the median nerve involves:

• motor: - lesions at the wrist (carpal tunnel) - pen-touching test. The patient lies his hand flat on a table with his palm facing upwards. The patient is asked to abduct his thumb to touch the examiner's pen which is held above it. This test is for the function of abductor pollicis brevis - one of the LOAF muscles supplied by the median nerve in the hand. LOAF is a mnemonic for the lateral two lumbricals, opponens pollicis, abductor pollicis brevis and flexor pollicis muscles. - lesions at the cubital fossa can be tested for using Oschner's clasping test.

• sensory: - test pin prick over the palmar aspect of the index finger - supplies the palmar aspect of the thumb, index, middle, and lateral half of ring fingers.