Brachial Plexus Flashcards
Brachial plexus is from what vertebral levels?
C5-T1
The brachial plexus carries nerve fibers from which system only?
sympathetic
5 sections of brachial plexus
roots trunks divisions cords terminal branches
How many roots in the brachial plexus?
5
How many trunks in the brachial plexus?
3
How many divisions in the brachial plexus?
6
How many cords in the brachial plexus?
3
How many terminal branches in the brachial plexus?
5
Brachial plexus roots travel between … muscles.
anterior and middle scalene
Brachial plexus cords travel under…
clavicle
Brachial plexus cords wrap around …
axillary artery
Brachial plexus terminal branches create an
axilla
The 5 roots of the brachial plexus give out three nerves
dorsal scapular nerve
phrenic
long thoracic
What prevents wings to heaven?
C5, 6, 7
The superior trunk of the brachial plexus gives out two nerves
Suprascapular
subclavius
3 trunks
superior, middle, inferior
The suprascapular artery runs … and the nerve runs …. the superior transverse scapular ligament.
above
under
3 cords of the brachial plexus
lateral
medial
posterior
The cords location and names are named for their relationship to…
axillary artery
Medial cord has what three branches?
medial pectoral nerve
medial cutaneous nerve of the arm
medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm
Posterior cord’s three branches
upper subscapular nerve
thoracodorsal nerve
lower subscapular nerve
5 terminal branches of the brachial plexus
musculocutaneous axillary median radial ulnar
What can cause damage to the axillary nerve?
fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus
How do you test injury to the axillary nerve?
by abduction of the shoulder joint beyond the first 15 degrees
Musculocutaneous nerve innervates …
coracobrachialis
biceps
brachialis
Radial nerve innervates
all the posterior and forearm muscles
If the humerus is fractured at the radial groove what can be damaged?
radial nerve and deep arm vessels
If the humerus is fractured at the medial epicondyle what can be damaged?
ulnar nerve
If there is a radial nerve injury what happens?
loss of elbow extension and extensor muscles of the wrist and digits are affected
Saturday night palsy
radial neuropathy
Median nerve innervates
all anterior compartment muscles of forearm except 1.5 muscles
What muscles does the ulnar nerve innervate?
flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar half of flexor digitorum profundus muscles
The ulnar nerve mainly innervates…
the hand
Vertebral levels and their respective nerve roots/terminal branches: C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
C5, C6: axillary
C5, C6, C7: musculocautaneous
C8, T1: ulnar
all: median and radial
Brachial plexus injuries: Erb’s palsy
superior part injury: C5, 6
Brachial plexus injuries: Klumpke’s palsy
inferior part injury: C8, T1
Typical causes of Erb’s palsy?
falling with shoulder on ground and shoulder dystocia
What is shoulder dystocia?
delivery of baby where head is excessively pulled on and breaks away from brachial plexus because baby’s head was stuck in birth canal
Most commonly involved nerves in Erb’s palsy:
suprascapular
musculocutaneous
axillary
Muscle paralysis of Erb’s palsy?
supraspinatus infraspinatus deltoid biceps brachialis brachioradialis
Backpackers palsy is caused by …. and results in…
compression of suprascapular nerve
atrophy of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles
