Final answer:
Guyon's canal is a fibro-osseous tunnel that protects the ulnar nerve and artery in the wrist, and abnormalities may include ulnar tunnel syndrome, which is a form of compression neuropathy that can be exacerbated by aging.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anatomy of Guyon's canal is described as a fibro-osseous tunnel found at the base of the palm. It begins at the proximal edge of the transverse carpal ligament and extends to the fibrous arch of the hypothenar muscles. This elongated basin-like structure encases critical components like the ulnar nerve and artery. Guyon's canal can be envisioned as a small pit or groove that creates a passage in bone, or a slit through bone.
Abnormalities in Guyon's canal may include conditions such as compression neuropathy, commonly known as ulnar tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the ulnar nerve is compressed. Over time, especially with the occurrence as the body ages, changes in the canal's structure or the presence of ganglia, repetitive trauma, or anomalous muscles can lead to such compression. This is akin to how the integrity of other anatomical passages, like a perforating canal (Volkmann's canal), which contains vessels and nerves, may get compromised affecting the air-filled space in bone, thus altering bone physiology.