Brachial Plexus Flashcards
The brachial plexus provides somatomotor and somatosensory innervation to
the
upper extremity
The brachial plexus arises from the
cervical enlargement of the spinal cord
It is formed by the anterior rami of cervical spinal nerve roots
C5-T1
These spinal nerve roots emerge from the — — of cervical
vertebrae and pass between the — of the neck
intervertebral foramina
anterior and middle scalene muscles
(interscalene space)
The brachial plexus is made up of the
ANTERIOR (VENTRAL) RAMI
of cervical and thoracic spinal nerves (C5 – T1)
Topographically, portions of the brachial plexus (trunks) emerge
posterolateral to the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the
lateral neck region, in an area called the posterior triangle, through the interscalene space (between the middle and anterior
scalene muscles) at approximately the level of the cricoid cartilage of the larynx.
The brachial plexus maintains an anatomical relationship with vascular structures emerging from the root of the neck
(subclavian a. and v.) as it travels
posterior to the omohyoid muscle and the clavicle
on its way into the axilla
For some surgeries involving the upper extremity, an — — is one example of a
procedure that can be performed as an alternative to general anesthesia
interscalene block
Typically guided by ultrasound, local anesthetic agents are injected close to the brachial plexus,
temporarily blocking
sensation and motor function to the the upper limb
Knowledge of the anatomical relationships within the — — of the neck is essential to
the safety success of this procedure
posterior triangle
Common complication:
Accidental partial anesthesia of the diaphragm and temporary respiratory
depression due to proximity of phrenic nerve (C3-C5; cervical plexus) to the anterior scalene m. and
compartmentalization of fascia within the neck
As the brachial plexus travels posterior to the clavicle, it enters the axillary region and travels posterior to the
pectoralis minor m.
Here it forms an intimate relationship with the axillary a. such that the artery itself runs
in
the middle of the plexus, surrounded by the cords and terminal branches.
The — — and it’s tributaries also seem to “entangle” themselves with
the various branches of the brachial plexus
axillary vein
As the brachial plexus runs into the axilla, along with the axillary a. and v., it is surrounded in this
neurovascular bundle by the
axillary sheath
Dermatome
area of cutaneous sensory innervation supplied by a single spinal nerve
For upper extremity this means brachial plexus (C5-T1), but some areas in the axilla are supplied by
lower thoracic spinal nerves (T2-T5)
C4 dermatome
Supraclavicular and upper shoulder region
C5 dermatome
Upper lateral arm and shoulder
C6 dermatome
Posteriolateral arm and lateral forearm
C7 dermatome
Middle of forearm and hand
C8 dermatome
Posteriomedial forearm and medial hand
T1 dermatome
Medial arm