a. and sb. Anat. [f. ULN-A + -AR. So F. ulnaire, Pg. ulnar, Sp. ulnario.]
1. Pertaining to the ulna, in various senses: a. In ulnar artery, nerve, vein, etc.
1741. Monro, Anat. Nerves (ed. 3), 70. The ulnar Nerve is in the Palm of the Hand.
1800. Phil. Trans., XC. 103. The median proceeding along the arm, with the large blood-vessels, and giving off two branches of communication with the ulnar nerve.
1813. J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 267. As the brachial [artery] is sometimes observed to be divided … into radial and ulnar arteries.
1840. E. Wilson, Anat. Vade Mecum, vi. 318. The posterior ulnar vein.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, 9. The ulnar sesamoid bone, or ‘os pisiforme,’ is not reckoned as a carpal bone.
1885. Buck’s Handbk. Med. Sci., I. 313/2. The ulnar nerve is placed to the inner side of the artery in the wrist.
b. With other sbs.
1803. [see ULNAD adv.].
1808. Barclay, Muscular Motions, p. xx. An aspect … towards the side on which the ulna is situated [is] ulnar.
1846. Brittan, trans. Malgaigne’s Man. Oper. Surg., 6. During the operation the ulnar border of the left hand should be pressed on the skin behind the right.
1854. Owen, in Orr’s Circ. Sci., Org. Nat., I. 190. The ulnar portion of the bone developes a short … olecranon.
1872. Humphry, Myology, 185. Towards the ulnar side of the hand these tendons are usually absent.
2. absol. as sb. The ulnar nerve.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 9. The physician then examines the nerve-trunks of both limbs simultaneously by means of gentle pressure on the ulnars behind the olecranons.
