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Copyright of Journal of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine / Ankara Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Mecmuasi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Communications between the median, ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves in the arm, forearm and hand were reported in adult cadaveric and electrophysiological studies. These communicant branches may lead conflicting clinical and electrodiagnostic outcomes. While there are many studies on adult patients or cadavers, there is poor regarding foetuses. The present study was conducted to examine the frequencies of these communications and their coexistences in human foetuses.Materials and Methods: Anterior aspect of the forearms of 50 foetuses (29 females, 20 males, and 1 unknown) were dissected bilaterally (totally 100 sides) for this purpose.Results: Communications between the median and the musculocutaneous nerves in the arm were found unilaterally in 4%. Communications from the median to the ulnar nerve in the forearm were encountered unilaterally in 22%, and bilaterally in 12%; from the ulnar to the median nerve in the hand unilaterally in 28%, and bilaterally in 12%. Coexistence of all these variations was not encountered in any foetus. But coexistence of two different types of communicant branch was encountered in 4%.Conclusions: Precise knowledge of nerve communications, variations and rate of coexistences in foetuses may have significance for clinicians and researchers dealing with subjects in foetal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]