Final answer:
The ulnar nerve supplies the adductor pollicis, a muscle crucial for thumb adduction and fine hand movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nerve that supplies the adductor pollicis, a muscle responsible for adducting the thumb, is the ulnar nerve. The adductor pollicis is part of the thenar muscles, which include the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, and the adductor pollicis.
These muscles, particularly the adductor pollicis, are instrumental for the precision grips and fine motor skills of the hand. It is specifically the deep branch of the ulnar nerve that innervates the adductor pollicis, which allows for the adduction of the thumb, an important movement in hand function.