College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What is mainly innervated by the median nerve?

1. Forearm flexor muscles

2. Deltoid and teres minor

3. Biceps and triceps

4. Serratus anterior

The correct answer is: Forearm flexor muscles

The median nerve primarily innervates the majority of the forearm flexor muscles, which are essential for movements such as flexing the wrist and fingers. This nerve travels down the arm and enters the hand, where it also innervates some intrinsic hand muscles, particularly those involved in thumb opposition and flexion. The forearm flexor muscles include important groups such as the flexor carpi radialis, flexor digitorum superficialis, and part of the flexor digitorum profundus. The other choices involve muscles that are not majorly innervated by the median nerve. The deltoid and teres minor are primarily innervated by the axillary nerve, while the biceps and triceps are innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve and radial nerve, respectively. The serratus anterior muscle is innervated by the long thoracic nerve. Therefore, the focus on the forearm flexor muscles as primarily innervated by the median nerve makes it the most appropriate answer.