17.2 Anatomy: Nerves of the upper limb

Question 1

Draw the brachial plexus

Answer 1

C5-T1 (ventral rami)

M
A
R
M
U

Question 2

Where do the roots, divisions and cords of the brachial plexes sit in relation to the body?

Answer 2

Roots/trunks: supraclavicular

Divisons: behind clavicle

Cords: infraclavicular in axilla

Question 3

What pierces the coracobrachialis?

Answer 3

Musculocutaneous nerve

Question 4

What is posterior cord comprised of?

Answer 4

Axillary and radial

Question 5

Where does the ulnar nerve pass behind? Does it go through the carpal tunnel?

Answer 5

Medial epicondyle

Not through carpal tunnel, over top of flexor retinaculum

Question 6

What are the rami of the musculocutaneous nerve?

What does it supply (motor)?

Answer 6

C5, 6, 7

Supplies biceps (above) and brachialis (below)

Question 7

What does the musculocutaneous nerve become? What does it supply?

Answer 7

Lateral cutaneous nerve

Supplies lateral cutaneous forearm

Question 8

What are the rami of the ulnar nerve?

Answer 8

(C7) C8, T1

Question 9

What is the ulnar nerve predominantly supply?

Answer 9

Hand, FCU, median half of FDP and 4th/5th fingers (everything that median nerve doesn’t)

Question 10

What are the rami of the median nerve?

What does it mainly supply?

Answer 10

C5, 6, 7, 8, T1

Flexor muscles, overlying skin and some of hand

Question 11

How does the median nerve enter the hand? What does it supply there?

Answer 11

Into carpal tunnel, supplies thenar muscles and lateral 2 lumbricals

Question 12

What is a cutaneous branching of the median nerve? What does it supply?

Answer 12

Palmar branch, supplies skin of palm

Question 13

What does the posterior cord supply?

Answer 13

Triceps, and all 12 muscles in posterior compartment of forearm

Question 14

What are the rami of the axillary nerve? What does the it supply?

What can it be endangered in?

Answer 14

C5/C6

Supplies teres minor, deltoid (and overlying skin)

Dislocation of shoulder joint

Question 15

What are the rami of the radial nerve? What is it responsible for?

Answer 15

C5, 6, 7, 8, T1

Triceps, all muscles in posterior compartment of forearm

Question 16

What may you endanger if you fracture the shaft of the humerus?

Answer 16

Radial nerve (not branches as they were given off previously)

Question 17

What are the relationships between the nerve/artery and muscle that sit in the cubital fossa?

Answer 17

Lateral to medial

Tendon of biceps, brachial artery and medial nerve

Question 18

What is a branch of the radial nerve that it gives off as it passes under brachioradialis?

Where does it run?

Answer 18

Posterior interosseous, passes through supinator (ends up deep)

Question 19

What is the cutaneous supply of the anterior arm?

Answer 19

Lateral side:
Axillary nerve
Radial nerve
Musculocutaneous nerve