Brachial plexus

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Nerve: Brachial plexus
The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.
Latin plexus brachialis
Gray's subject #210 930
From C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
MeSH Brachial+plexus
Dorlands
/ Elsevier    		 p_24/12647576

The brachial plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibres, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower cervical and upper thoracic nerve roots, specifically from above the fifth cervical vertebra to underneath the first thoracic vertebra (C5-T1). It proceeds through the neck, the axilla (armpit region) and into the arm.

Contents

[edit] Function

The brachial plexus is responsible for cutaneous and muscular innervation of the entire upper limb, with two exceptions: the trapezius muscle innervated by the spinal accessory nerve and an area of skin near the axilla innervated by the intercostobrachialis nerve.

Therefore, brachial plexus lesions can lead to severe functional impairment.

[edit] Anatomy

[edit] Path

One can remember the order of brachial plexus elements by way of the mnemonic, "Read The Damn Cadaver Book" (Or, alternatively, Randy Travis Drinks Cold Beer") - Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches[1] or - Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Collateral/Pre-terminal Branches, and (Terminal) Branches.

  • These roots merge to form three trunks:
  • Each trunk then splits in two, to form six divisions:
    • anterior division[5] of the upper, middle and lower trunks
    • posterior division[6] of the upper, middle, and lower trunks
  • These six divisions will regroup to become the three cords. The cords are named by their position in respect to the axillary artery.
    • The posterior cord is formed from the three posterior divisions of the trunks (C5-T1)
    • The lateral cord is the anterior divisions from the upper and middle trunks (C5-C7)
    • The medial cord is simply a continuation of the anterior division of the lower trunk (C8-T1)
  • The branches are listed below. Most branch from the cords, but a few branch (indicated in italics) directly from earlier structures. The five in bold are considered "terminal branches".

[edit] Diagram

[edit] Specific branches

From Nerve Roots Muscles Cutaneous
roots dorsal scapular nerve C5 rhomboid muscles and levator scapulae -
roots long thoracic nerve C5, C6, C7 serratus anterior -
superior trunk nerve to the subclavius C5, C6 subclavius muscle -
superior trunk suprascapular nerve C5, C6 supraspinatus and infraspinatus -
lateral cord lateral pectoral nerve C5, C6, C7 pectoralis major (by communicating with the medial pectoral nerve) -
lateral cord musculocutaneous nerve C5, C6, C7 coracobrachialis, brachialis and biceps brachii becomes the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm
lateral cord lateral root of the median nerve C5, C6, C7 fibres to the median nerve -
posterior cord upper subscapular nerve C5, C6 subscapularis (upper part) -
posterior cord thoracodorsal nerve (middle subscapular nerve) C6, C7, C8 latissimus dorsi -
posterior cord lower subscapular nerve C5, C6 subscapularis (lower part ) and teres major -
posterior cord axillary nerve C5, C6 anterior branch: deltoid and a small area of overlying skin
posterior branch: teres minor and deltoid muscles		 posterior branch becomes upper lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm
posterior cord radial nerve C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 triceps brachii, supinator, anconeus, the extensor muscles of the forearm, and brachioradialis skin of the posterior arm as the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm
medial cord medial pectoral nerve C8, T1 pectoralis major and pectoralis minor -
medial cord medial root of the median nerve C8, T1 fibres to the median nerve portions of hand not served by ulnar or radial
medial cord medial cutaneous nerve of the arm C8, T1 - front and medial skin of the arm
medial cord medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm C8, T1 - medial skin of the forearm
medial cord ulnar nerve C8, T1 flexor carpi ulnaris, the medial 2 bellies of flexor digitorum profundus, most of the small muscles of the hand the skin of the medial side of the hand and medial one and a half fingers on the palmar side and medial two and a half fingers on the dorsal side

[edit] Additional images

Brachial plexus with areas of roots, trunks, divisions and cords marked.
Brachial plexus with areas of roots, trunks, divisions and cords marked.


Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.

The axillary artery and its branches.

Cutaneous nerves of right upper extremity.

Diagram of segmental distribution of the cutaneous nerves of the right upper extremity.

The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses.

Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mnemonic at medicalmnemonics.com 18 2741
  2. ^ t_20/12826113 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  3. ^ t_20/12826075 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  4. ^ t_20/12826025 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  5. ^ d_26/12310223 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  6. ^ d_26/12310244 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Nerves: spinal nerves
Cervical (8)
Thoracic (12)
Lumbar (5)
Sacral (5)
Coccygeal (1)
v • d • e
Nerves of upper limbs (primarily): the brachial plexus (C5-T1)
Supraclavicular
Infraclavicular: lateral cord
Infraclavicular: medial cord
Infraclavicular: posterior cord
Other