Little Ulnar Digital Nerve and Vein Anatomy

The digital nerves are derived from the median and ulnar nerves.
The radial common digital nerve of the median nerve branches to the digital nerves of the thumb and radial side of the index.
The 2^nd common digital nerve from the median nerve branches into the ulnar digital nerve of the index and radial digital nerve of the long.
The 3^rd common digital nerve of the median nerve branches into the ulnar digital nerve of the long and radial digital nerve of the ring.
The common digital nerve of the 4-5 web from the ulnar nerve branches into the ulnar digital nerve of the ring and radial digital nerve of the little, while the ulnar nerve provides the ulnar digital nerve of the little.
The digital nerves supply sensation to the skin via the free nerve endings, the Pacinian corpuscles, and the Meissner’s corpuscles.

Diagrams & Photos

Radial and ulnar digital nerves of the ring finger.
Dissection of palmar finger showing the flexor tendons, radial digital artery, the radial digital nerve, and the ulnar digital nerve.
Palmar Grayson's and dorsal Cleland's skin retention ligaments and their relationship to the neurovascular bundles.
Nerve with axons enclosed in endoneurium (1); Fascicle enclosed in perineurium (2); Fascicular groups enclosed in connective tissue called internal epineurium (3); Internal epineurium (4); External epineurium (5); Epineural blood vessels (6).

Key Points

The digital nerves are held in place by the Grayson’s and Cleland’s retention ligaments.
The digital nerves lie palmar (superficial) to the arteries in the finger and dorsal (deep) to the common digital arteries in the palm.
The digital nerve trifurcates at the middle of the middle phalanx and sends branches dorsally to provide sensation over the dorsal DIP joint area and distal dorsal fingertip.