Nerve of the wrist associated with carpal tunnel syndrome is which?

• A. Median nerve
• B. Ulnar nerve
• C. Radial nerve
• D. Axillary nerve

Answer: (A)

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when a nerve traveling through the carpal tunnel at the wrist is compressed. That tunnel is formed by the carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum and contains the median nerve along with several flexor tendons. When the median nerve is squeezed, you get numbness, tingling, or pain in the thumb, index, middle finger, and the radial half of the ring finger, often with weakness of the thenar muscles. The ulnar nerve runs through a different path (Guyon’s canal) and isn’t typically affected by carpal tunnel compression, while the radial and axillary nerves do not pass through the carpal tunnel and are associated with different regions and functions. So, the nerve most linked to carpal tunnel syndrome is the median nerve.