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Brachial Plexus Flashcards

1
Q

What is the brachial plexus?

A

Collection of anterior/ventral rami of spinal nerves coming together to form a set of peripheral nerves

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2
Q

What muscles are supplied by the brachial plexus?

A

Shoulder girdle + upper limbs muscles

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3
Q

Where does the brachial plexus supply sensation to?

A

Upper limbs

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4
Q

Location of brachial plexus

A

Axilla + neck

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5
Q

Colloquial term for axilla

A

Armpits

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6
Q

Mnemonic for remembering part of brachial plexus

A

Remember To Drink Cold Beer

Roots Trunks Divisions Cords Branches

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7
Q

Which spinal nerves are in the brachial plexus?

A

C5-T1

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8
Q

Origin + roots of long thoracic nerve

A

C5, C6, C7
From anterior rami of spinal nerves (roots)

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9
Q

What does damage to the long thoracic nerve cause?

A

Winged scapula

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10
Q

What are the trunks of the brachial plexus?

A

Superior
Middle
Inferior

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11
Q

Roots of the superior trunk of brachial plexus

A

C5, C6

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12
Q

Roots of the middle trunk of brachial plexus

A

C7

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13
Q

Roots of the inferior trunk of brachial plexus

A

C8, T1

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14
Q

What does the anterior division of the superior trunk branch into in the brachial plexus?

A

Lateral cord

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15
Q

What does the posterior division of the superior trunk branch into in the brachial plexus?

A

Posterior cord

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16
Q

What does the anterior division of the middle trunk branch into in the brachial plexus?

A

Lateral cord

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17
Q

What does the posterior division of the middle trunk branch into in the brachial plexus?

A

Posterior cord

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18
Q

What does the anterior division of the inferior trunk branch into in the brachial plexus?

A

Medial cord

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19
Q

What does the posterior division of the inferior trunk branch into in the brachial plexus?

A

Posterior cord

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20
Q

What branches off the lateral cord in the brachial plexus?

A

Musculocutanoeus nerve
Median nerve

(Lateral pectoral nerve)

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21
Q

Origin + roots of lateral pectoral nerve

A

C5, C6, C7
From lateral cord

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22
Q

What branches off the medial cord in the brachial plexus?

A

Median nerve
Ulnar nerve

(Medial pectoral nerve)

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23
Q

Origin + roots of medial pectoral nerve

A

C8, T1
From medial cord

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24
Q

What branches from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus?

A

Axillary nerve
Radial nerve

25
Q

Where does the musculocutaneous nerve branch from?

A

Lateral cord

26
Q

Where does the axillary nerve branch from?

A

Posterior cord

27
Q

Where does the radial nerve branch from?

A

Posterior cord

28
Q

Where does the median nerve branch from?

A

Lateral + medial cord

29
Q

Where does the ulnar nerve branch from?

A

Medial cord

30
Q

Origin + roots of musculocutaneous nerve

A

C5, C6, C7
From lateral cord
Three musketeers

31
Q

Origin + roots of axillary nerve

A

C5, C6
From posterior cord
Assassinated

32
Q

Origin + roots of median nerve

A

C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
From lateral + medial cord
Five mice

33
Q

Origin + roots of radial nerve

A

C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
From posterior cord
Five rats

34
Q

Origin + roots of ulnar nerve

A

C8, T1
From medial cord
Two unicorns

35
Q

Motor function of musclocutaneous nerve

A

Anterior arm - biceps brachii
- brachialis
-coracobranchialis

36
Q

Sensory function of musclocutaneous nerve

A

Becomes lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm
Lateral forearm

37
Q

Motor function of axillary nerve

A

Shoulder muscles - deltoid
- teres minor

38
Q

Sensory function of axillary nerve

A

Lateral aspect of superior arm
’regimental badge area’

39
Q

Motor function of median nerve

A

Anterior forearm
Thenar muscles

40
Q

Sensory function of median nerve

A

Radial 3 1/2 digits of palmar hand + tips of those fingers on dorsum of hand

Thumb, pointer + 1/2 middle

41
Q

Motor function of radial nerve

A

Posterior arm + forearm

42
Q

Sensory function of radial nerve

A

4 branches
Posterior arm
Forearm
Dorsum of hand - radial 3 1/2 digits NOT fingertips

43
Q

Motor function of ulnar nerve

A

Flexor carpi ulnaris
Flexor digitorum profundus
Intrinsic muscles of hand (not LOAF)

44
Q

Sensory function of ulnar nerve

A

Ulnar 1 1/2 digits of hand - plantar + dorsum

Little + 1/2 ring

45
Q

What does an upper brachial plexus injury affect?

A

Superior trunk
C5 + C6 nerve roots

46
Q

Mechanism of an upper brachial plexus injury

A
  • Fall onto neck > excess lateral flexion
  • Obstetric complication > shoulder dystocia
47
Q

Presentation of upper brachial plexus injury
Name for this position

A

Arm -ADducted + internally rotated
Elbow - extended + pronated
Wrist - flexed

Waiters Tip Position

48
Q

Reason for Waiters Tip Position in Erb’s Palsy

A

C5 + C6 nerve roots affected
C5 - shoulder ABduction + external rotation
C6 - elbow flexion, rust extension + supination

Opposite of these myotomes occur in presentation

49
Q

Another name for upper brachial plexus injury

A

Erb’s palsy

50
Q

Another name for lower brachial plexus injury

A

Klumpke’s palsy

51
Q

What does a lower brachial plexus injury affect?

A

Inferior trunk
C8 + T1 nerve roots

52
Q

Mechanism of lower brachial plexus injury

A
  • Falling out of a tree + grabbing a branch
  • Obstetrics complication > delivery with arm pulled
53
Q

Presentation of Klumpke’s palsy
Name for this position

A
  • Hyperextension of metacarpophalangeal joints
  • Flexion of interphalangeal joints
  • ABduction of thumb

Claw hand

54
Q

Reason for Claw hand in Klumpke’s palsy

A

C8 + T1 nerve roots affected
C8 - finger flexion + extension + thumbs extension
T1 - finger ADduction + ABduction

55
Q

List the peripheral nerves in the brachial plexus

A

Musculocutaneous
Axillary
Radial
Median
Ulnar

56
Q

What are the roots of the brachial plexus formed by?

A

Anterior rami of spinal nerves C5-T1

57
Q

What are the cords of the brachial plexus?
What are they named relative to?

A

Lateral, posterior + medial cords
Named by their relative position to the axillary artery

58
Q

Way to orientate yourself when looking at brachial plexus prosection

A

Look for M shape
Made of musculocutaneous, median + ulnar nerve
Superficial to axillary artery

59
Q

What is the M shape of the brachial plexus peripheral nerves made of?

A

Musculocutaneous
Median
Ulnar

MSK (25 decks)

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