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Anatomy - Upper Limb > Brachial Plexus > Flashcards

Brachial Plexus Flashcards

1
Q

Define nerve plexus

A

It is a complex arrangement of the anterior primary rami of certain spinal nerves, allowing mixing of fibres from different segments of the spinal cord and giving branches to supply the muscles and skin of certain parts of the body

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2
Q

What is the brachial plexus?

A

It is a big network of nerves which lies partly in the neck and partly in the axilla and is concerned with the innervation of the skin and muscles of upper limb

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3
Q

Types of brachial plexus and their formation

A
  1. Normal type
    Formed of the anterior primary rami of the lower 4 cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve (C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1)
  2. Prefixed type
    Origin of the plexus may shift one segment up
    Receives a large contribution from C4
  3. Postfixed type
    Origin may shift one segment down
    Receives large contributions
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4
Q

List the stages of the brachial plexus

A

(Remember To Drink Cold Beer)

  1. Roots
  2. Trunks
  3. Divisions
  4. Cords
  5. Branches
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5
Q

List the roots of the brachial plexus

A

C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1

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6
Q

List the trunks of the brachial plexus

A
  1. Upper trunk - union of C5 and C6
  2. Middle trunk - C7
  3. Lower trunk - union of C8 and T1
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7
Q

How many divisions are there?

A

6
Each trunk divides into two: Anterior and posterior division

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8
Q

List the cords and what forms them

A
  1. Lateral cords - Union of the anterior divisions of the upper and middle trunks; fibres from C5, C6 and C7
  2. Posterior cords - Union of the posterior divisions of the 3 trunks; thus, fibres from C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1
  3. Medial cords - Anterior division of the lower trunk only; fibres from C8 and T1
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9
Q

Number of branches formed by the different cords

A
  1. Lateral cord - 3 branches
  2. Posterior cord - 5 branches
  3. Medial cord - 5 branches
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10
Q

What are the branches given rise to by the roots and the nerves forming them?

A
  1. Nerve to the rhomboids - C5
  2. Nerve to Serratus Anterior - C5, C6 and C7
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11
Q

What are the branches given rise to by the upper trunk, as well as the nerves forming them?

A
  1. Suprascapular nerve -C5 and C6
  2. Nerve to subclavian - C5 and C6
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12
Q

Mention the beginning/ starter point of the brachial plexus as well as its termination

A

It begins in the posterior triangle of the neck at the lateral border of scalenus anterior muscle.
It terminates in the axilla, at the lower border of pectoralis minor muscle, where the cords give their branches which supply the upper limb.

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13
Q

Course and relations of:
a. The roots

A

Lie in upper part of the posterior triangle of the neck between scalenus anterior and scalenus medius muscle

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14
Q

Course and relations of:
b. The trunks

A

Lie in the lower part of posterior triangle of neck

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15
Q

Course and relations of:
c. The divisions

A

Lie behind the middle third of the clavicle

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16
Q

Course and relations of:
d.The cords

A

Lie in the axilla, in relation to axillary artery as follows:

  1. relation of cords to the 1st part of the axillary artery
    . medial cord - lies behind the artery
    . lateral and posterior cords - lie lateral to the artery
  2. relation of cords to the 2nd part of axillary artery
    . medial cord - lies medial to the artery
    . lateral cord - lies lateral to the artery
    . posterior cord - lies posterior to the artery
17
Q

Course and relations of:
e. Branches

A

Start at the lower border of pectorals minor muscle and are related to the third part of axillary artery as follows:

i. Branches of medial cord - lie med. to it
1. Medial cutaneous nerve of the arm
2. Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
3. Medial root of median nerve and ulnar nerve

ii. Branches of the lateral cord - lie lat. to it
1. Musculocutaneous nerve
2. Lateral root of median nerve

iii. Branches of posterior cord - lie post. to it
1. Upper and lower subscapular nerves
2. Nerve to latissimus dorsi
3. Axillary nerve
4. Radial nerve

18
Q

Name the roots of the posterior cord and their nerves

A
  1. Upper subscapular nerve - C5, C6 and C7
  2. Nerve to latissimus dorsi - C5, C6, C7 and C8
  3. Lower subscapular nerve - C5, C6 and C7
  4. Axillary nerve - C5, C6 and C7
  5. Radial nerve - C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1
19
Q

List the branches of the medial cord

A
  1. Medial pectoral nerve
    2.Medial cutaneous nerve of the arm
  2. Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
  3. Medial root of median nerve and ulnar nerve
20
Q

List the branches of the lateral cord

A
  1. Musculocutaneous nerve
  2. Lateral root of median nerve
21
Q

List the branches of the posterior cord

A
  1. Upper subscapular nerve
  2. Nerve to latissimus dorsi
  3. Lower subscapular nerve
  4. Axillary nerve
  5. Radial nerve

Anatomy - Upper Limb (11 decks)

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