3A.1 BRACHIAL PLEXUS

Question 1

Characteristics of the brachial plexus

Answer 1

• Anterior rami from c5-t8 join together
• clinically important for diagnosing upper limb injury and disease

Question 2

what are the 5 peripheral nerves?

Answer 2

• Axillary
  >teres minor, deltoid (c5-c6)
• Radial
  > posterior compartments (C5-T1)
• Musculocutaneous
  > Arm flexors (c5-7)
• Median
  >forearm flexors (c5-t1)
• Ulnar
  >forearm flexors (c8-t1)

Question 3

how is the brachial plexus broken up?

Answer 3

• 5 portions
  >ROOTS (C5-T1)
  >TRUNKS (UPPER,MIDDLE,LOWER)
  >DIVISIONS (ANT/POST)
  >CORDS (Lateral,Medial,Posterior)
  >BRANCHES (Peripheral nerves)

Really Thirsty Drink Cold Beer

Question 4

what do divisions do? (anterior, posterior)

Answer 4

They separate the flexor and extensor nerves

Question 5

Extensors

Answer 5

to the back
(radial, axial)

Question 6

Flexors

Answer 6

to the front
(Musculocutaneous, Median, Ulnar)

Question 7

what brachial plexus injury has the following characteristics:

Excess angle between neck + shoulder which results in stretching of the top roots

Outcome: waiter’s tip
- Musculocutaneous + axillary N imparied

• Paralysis of: deltoid, biceps + brachialis

-Limb medial rotation + adduction, extended elbow, pronated forearm

Answer 7

C5/C6 INJURY (Erb-Duchenne Palsy)

Question 8

what brachial plexus injury has the following characteristics:

Excess angle between arm and body, usually overhead which results in stretching lower roots

Outcome:
- Poor ulnar n function
- lower arm and hand movement
- Loss of sensation to medial, distal hand

Answer 8

C8/T1 Injury (Klumpke Paralysis)