National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Practice Test

Paresthesia on the palm and first, second, and third fingers most likely indicates nerve entrapment at which location?

1. Carpal Tunnel

2. Pronator Teres

3. Radial Tunnel

4. Ulnar Canal

The correct answer is: Pronator Teres

Paresthesia in the palm and specifically in the first, second, and third fingers is most commonly associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition arises due to the entrapment of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The median nerve innervates the skin of the palmar aspect of the first three digits and part of the fourth digit, which aligns with the symptoms described. The pronator teres syndrome, although it can cause some sensory changes in the hand, generally affects the same distribution as carpal tunnel but would typically also involve the proximal forearm, not just the fingers. Therefore, while entrapment at the pronator teres can lead to numbness or tingling, it does not primarily affect the specific digits mentioned. The radial tunnel primarily involves the radial nerve and is more likely to cause pain or motor symptoms in the wrist and hand, but not typical sensations of paresthesia in the specific fingers indicated. Lastly, the ulnar canal (or Guyon's canal) syndrome primarily affects the ulnar nerve, causing symptoms in the fourth and fifth fingers, which is not consistent with the paresthesia in the first three fingers described in the question. Thus, the