Brachial Plexus Flashcards
Muscles in the anterior arm, anterior forearm, and hand that act mainly as FLEXORS are innervated by nerves that contain ANTERIOR DIVISION FIBERS
Musculocutaneous
Ulnar
Median
Lateral and Medial Pectoral Nerves
Muscles in the posterior arm and posterior forearm that act mainly as EXTENSORS are innervated by nerves that contain POSTERIOR DIVISION FIBERS
Axillary
Radial
Upper, Middle and Lower Subscapular Nerves
Branches of the brachial plexus
ROOTS
Roots:
DORSAL SCAPULAR (C5) - Rhomboids
LONG THORACIC (C5-C7) - Serratus Anterior
Branches of the brachial plexus
UPPER TRUNK
Upper trunk:
NERVE TO SUBCLAVIUS (C5 & C6)
SUPRASCAPULAR (C5 & C6)
- Supraspinatus Infraspinatus
Branches of brachial plexus
LATERAL CORD
Lateral cord:
LATERAL PECTORAL (C5-C7) - Pectoralis Major
MUSCULOCUTANEOUS (C5-C7)
- Coracobrachialis
- Biceps brachii
- Brachialis
LATERAL ROOT OF MEDIAN (C5, C6 & C7)
Branches of brachial plexus
MEDIAL CORD
Medial cord:
MEDIAL PECTORAL (C8-T1) - Pectoralis Minor
MEDIAL CUTANEOUS NERVE OF ARM (C8-T1)
MEDIAL CUTANEOUS NERVE OF FOREARM
(C8-T1)
ULNAR (C8-T1)
MEDIAL ROOT OF MEDIAN (C8-T1)
Branches of brachial plexus
POSTERIOR CORD
Posterior cord:
UPPER SUBSCAPULAR (C5 & C6) - Subscapularis
THORACODORSAL (C6, C7 & C8)
- Latissimus dorsi
LOWER SUBSCAPULAR (C5 and C6) - Teres Major
AXILLARY (C5 and C6)
- Deltoid, Teres Minor
RADIAL (C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1)
Axillary nerve
Deltoid
Teres Minor
Musculocutaneous nerve
Anterior / Flexor compartment of arm
Radial nerve
Posterior / Extensor compartment of arm and forearm
Median nerve
Anterior / flexor compartment of forearm except FCU and FDP - medial
Ulnar nerve
Intrinsic muscles of hand
Tendon reflexes:
Biceps Brachii tendon reflex
Triceps tendon reflex
Brachioradialis tendon reflex
Biceps Brachii tendon reflex
- C5 and C6; flexion of the elbow joint by tapping the biceps tendon
Triceps tendon reflex
- C6, C7 and C8; extension of the elbow joint by tapping the triceps tendon
Brachioradialis tendon reflex
- C5, C6 and C7; supination of the radioulnar joints by tapping the insertion of the brachioradialis tendon
- Results from lesion of C5 and c6 ventral rami in the superior trunk of the plexus
- PROXIMAL musculature in the upper limb is mainly affected - muscles acting at the shoulder and at the elbow will be weakened
- upper limb is held in a “WAITER’s TIP” position; arm is adducted, extended and medially rotated; forearm is probated and the carpal flexors flex the hand at the wrist
- altered sensation in lateral arm, forearm, thumb and index finger
ERB-DUCHENNE’s SYNDROME
- Result from compression if the c8 and T1 ventral rami in the inferior trunk of the plexus
- DISTAL muscles in the upper limb innervated by C8 and T1 will be affected
- altered sensation in the medial hand, ring and little finger
- weakness of the intrinsic muscles of hand - combination of an “APE hand” and a “CLAW hand”
KLUMPKE’s PARALYSIS