Hilton's law expoused by John Hilton in a series of medical lectures given in 1860-1862, is the observation that in the study of anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...

, one often finds that a nerve

Nerve

A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...

 that innervates a joint

Joint

A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally.-Classification:...

 also tends to innervate the muscle

Muscle

Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...

s that move the joint and the skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

 that covers the distal attachments of those muscles.

For example, the musculocutaneous nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve

The musculocutaneous nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, opposite the lower border of the Pectoralis major, its fibers being derived from C5, C6 and C7.-Path:...

 supplies the elbow joint

Elbow

The human elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint—the ginglymus or hinge joint in the middle of the arm. Three bones form the elbow joint: the humerus of the upper arm, and the paired radius and ulna of the forearm....

 of humans with pain and proprioception

Proprioception

Proprioception , from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own" and perception, is the sense of the relative position of neighbouring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement...

 fibres. It also supplies biceps brachii, brachialis, and the forearm skin close to the insertion of each of those muscles.

Hilton's law arises as a result of the embryological

Embryology

Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...

 development of humans (or indeed other animals). Hilton based his law upon his extensive anatomical knowledge and clinical experiences. As with most British surgeons of his day [1805-1878] he intensely studied anatomy.

Extensions of the law

Hilton's law is described above. Similar observations can be made, to extend the theory; often a nerve will supply both the muscles and skin relating to a particular joint. The observation often holds true in reverse - that is to say, a nerve that supplies skin or a muscle will often supply the applicable joint.

See also

• John Hilton (surgeon)
• Hilton's Line
  Hilton's white line
  Hilton's white line is a boundary in the anal canal.Below it, lymphatic drainage is to the superficial inguinal nodes.A landmark for the intermuscular border between internal and external anal sphincter muscles...
  
  
• Hilton's Muscle
• Hilton's Pit