Brachial Plexus

Question 1

describe the organization of the brachial plexus using numbers 5-3-6-3-5

Answer 1

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roots, trunks, divisions, cords, branch

Question 2

Describe the formation of the 3 trunks

Answer 2

C5-C6 make superior
C7- makes middle
C8-T1 makes inferior

Question 3

list the name of the three cords and their relationship to the axillary artery

Answer 3

medial, lateral, posterior cords, named based off their relationship to axillary a

Question 4

What are the branches of the lateral cord?

Answer 4

lateral thoracic nerve
musculocutaneous nerve
lateral pectoral nerve

Question 5

What are the branches of the medial cord? (M&Ms 4 U)

Answer 5

medial pectoral n.
medial part of median n.
medial brachial cutaneous
medial antebrachial cutaneous
ulnar n.

Question 6

What are the branches of the posterior cord? (ULTRA)

Answer 6

upper subscapular n
lower subscapular n.
thoracodorsal n.
radial n.
axillary n.

Question 7

What are the 5 terminal branches and what is the spinal level?

Answer 7

musculocutaneous (C5-C7)
axillary (C5-C6)
radial (C5-T1)
median (C5-T1)
ulnar (C8-T1)

Question 8

What part of the brachial plexus is injured in Erb’s Palsy?What causes erbs palsy?

Answer 8

Upper part (C5-C6) pulled out of spinal cord
caused by excessive separation of neck and shoulder

Question 9

How would a patient with Erb’s palsy present?

Answer 9

adduction, medial rotation of humerus
extension of elbow
flexion of hand
(cause loss of the opposing movements)
loss of sensation in c5-c6

Question 10

What muscles are paralyzed in erbs palsy?

Answer 10

deltoid (axillary n)
supraspinatous-suprascapular n.
infraspinatous-suprascapular n
teres minor-axillary n
subscapularis-upper/lower subscapular n.
weak elbow flexors (biceps and brachialis-musculocutaneous nerve.

Question 11

What part of the brachial plexus is injured in klumkes paralysis? how is this caused?

Answer 11

lower part (C8-T1)
forceful upward pull of arm

Question 12

What muscles are impaired in klumkes paralysis? what motions are impaired?

Answer 12

anything innervated by the ulnar n.
wrist flexion, intrinsic finger movemnts
reduced sensation on medial arm, forearm and hand
loss of dermatome sensation in C8-T1

Question 13

What is the spinal level of the musculocutaneous nerve?

Answer 13

C5-C7

Question 14

What is the spinal level of the axillary nerve?

Answer 14

C5-C6

Question 15

What is the spinal level of the radial nerve?

Answer 15

C5-T1

Question 16

What is the spinal level of the median nerve?

Answer 16

C5-T1

Question 17

What is the spinal level of the ulnar nerve?

Answer 17

C8-T1

Question 18

What nerves are injured in Erbs palsy?

Answer 18

axillary n.
musculocutaneous n.
suprascapular n
upper/lower subscapular n.
dorsal and ventral rami of C5-C6 dermatome