Guyon Canal
Original Editor - Lilian Ashraf
Top Contributors - Mohit Chand, Lilian Ashraf, Kim Jackson, Daphne Xuan and Jonathan Wong
Introduction
Guyon’s canal, also called ulnar tunnel or ulnar canal, is an anatomical fibro-osseous canal located on the medial side of the hand. It extends between the proximal border of the pisiform bone and distally at the hook of the hamate. The ulnar nerve and ulnar artery pass through the Guyon canal as they pass from distal forearm to the hand.[1][2][3]
Description
The Guyon canal houses the ulnar nerve and its branches, ulnar artery and venous and lymphatic vessels. As the ulnar nerve exits the Guyon’s canal, it is divided into deep (motor) branch of the ulnar nerve and superficial (sensory) branch of the ulnar nerve.[1][3][4]
The ulnar artery is the main contributor to the superficial palmar arch in the hand.[5]
Borders
- Roof: palmar carpal ligament, palmaris brevis and hypothenar connective tissue.
- Floor: transverse carpal ligament, pisohamete ligament, pismetacarpal ligament, flexor digitorum profundus tendons and opponens digiti minimi.
- Medial wall: pisiform, abductor digiti minimi and flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
- Lateral wall: hook of hamete, transverse carpal ligament and the flexor tendons.[1]
Below is a video about ulnar nerve and Guyon's canal anatomy:
Clinical Relevance
Guyon canal syndrome is the second reason for compression syndromes on the wrist after carpal tunnel syndrome. Compression of the ulnar nerve at the Guyon’s canal leads to specific sensory and motor symptoms according to the location of the compression.[1]
Hypothenar hand syndrome is caused by repeated trauma to the hypothenar region, resulting in injury to the ulnar artery in Guyon space.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ramage, J. L., & Varacallo, M. A. (2023, August 14). Anatomy, shoulder and upper limb, hand Guyon Canal. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534814/
- ↑ Depukat, P., Mizia, E., Kłosiński, M., Dzikowska, M., Klimek‐Piotrowska, W., Mazur, M., & Bonczar, T. (2014). Anatomy of Guyon’s canal - a systematic review. Last Assessed: 19/02/2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Aleksenko, D., & Varacallo, M. A. (2023, August 4). Guyon Canal Syndrome. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. Last assessed: 19/02/2025
- ↑ Vargas, A., Chiapas-Gasca, K., Hernández-Díaz, C., Canoso, J. J., Saavedra, M. Á., Navarro-Zarza, J. E., Villaseñor-Ovies, P., & Kalish, R. A. (2012). Clinical anatomy of the hand. Reumatología Clínica, 8, 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reuma.2012.10.004
- ↑ Marques E, Bordoni B. Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Ulnar Artery. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546619/
- ↑ John Gibbons. Anatomy of the Ulnar Nerve & Guyon's Canal. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifUnTYU1fEY [last accessed 19/02/2025]