Guyon's canal

Full Definition

Guyon's canal is a fibro-osseous tunnel located at the ulnar side of the wrist, bounded by the pisiform bone, hook of hamate, and transverse carpal ligament. The ulnar nerve and artery pass through this canal before entering the hand. Compression within this canal can cause ulnar nerve entrapment, leading to weakness and numbness in the fourth and fifth fingers. This condition is distinct from cubital tunnel syndrome, which affects the ulnar nerve at the elbow.

Usage

Usage note: Named after French surgeon Félix Guyon; always capitalize when referring to the eponymous structure.

In Context

• "The patient presented with numbness in the ring finger consistent with Guyon's canal syndrome." — Clinical case report
• "Surgical decompression of Guyon's canal was performed to relieve ulnar nerve compression." — Operative note