Abstract: Objective    To accurately localize the body surface position and depth of nerve entry points (NEPs) of the adult anterior forearm muscles.    Methods    Twelve adult cadavers were used in the supine position. The curve close to the skin connecting the lateral epicondyle and the medial epicondyle of humerus was designed as the horizontal reference line (H), and the curve between the lateral epicondyle and the radius styloid process was designed as the longitudinal reference line (L). The NEPs ware exposed by dissection and marked with barium sulfate, then spiral CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction were performed. The projection point of NEP on the body surface was denoted as P point, and the point P through NEP projecting onto the posterior surface of the forearm was denoted as P' point. The position of P point projected on H line and L line was denoted as PH and PL respectively. The positions of PH and PL on H and L lines and the depth of NEPs were determined under Syngo system.    Results    The PH for the NEPs of the pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum profundus (median nerve branch), flexor digitorum profundus (ulnar nerve branch), and pronator quadratus muscles were located at 58.08%, 64.17%, 75.14%, 61.14%, 62.26%, 52.07%, 50.81%, 63.38% and 51.37% on the H line, respectively. The PL were at 9.79%, 3.97%, 16.37%, 4.42%, 17.88%, 34.17%, 30.27%, 11.48% and 75.32% of the L line, respectively. The puncture depth were located at 26.80%, 25.06%, 27.68%, 28.13%, 37.30%, 39.85%, 49.26%, 70.86% and 44.25% of the PP' line, respectively. The above data were the average value.    Conclusions    The definition of the body surface location and depth of these NEPs can provide morphological guidance for improving the efficiency of target block of extra-muscular neurolysis, the design of minimally invasive incision for the treatment of muscle spasticity by surgical transection the neuromuscular branches, the evaluation of the function of the donor muscle, and the protection of nerves in muscle transplantation.

Key words: Anterior forearm muscles,  ,  , Nerve entry point,  ,  , Localization,  ,  , Applied anatomy,  ,  , Adult