Brachial Plexus and Artery of Arm

Question 1

Axillary Artery.
What is it?
What is it continuous from?
What are its borders?
What are its three parts?

Answer 1

Central structure of Axilla (armpit) 
Continuation of the subclavian art.
Lateral border of 1st rib. and Inferior border of teres major.
Sup to pectoralis minor
Post to pec minor
Inf to pec minor.

Question 2

Axillary Artery, 1st part.
How many branches?
Name them .
What do they supply?

Answer 2

1 branch.
Superior thoracic art.
Supplies medial and anterior thoracic cage axillary walls.

Question 3

Axillary Artery, 2nd part.
How many branches?
Name them.
What do they supply?

Answer 3

2 branches.
Thoracoacromial Trunk--
A cromial branch
P ectoral branch
C lavicular branch
D eltoid branch
Anterior axillary wall and related regions

Lateral Thoracic art.
Medial and anterior walls of axilla (women, also the breast)
Runs with long thoracic nerve–Serratus anterior.

Question 4

Axillary Artery, 3rd part.
How many branches?
Name them.
What are their branches or who do they supply?

Answer 4

3 branches.
Subscapular trunk (runs down thorax posteriorly)–
Thoracodorsal to Latissimus Dorsi
Scapular Circulmflex wraps around scapula.

Anterior circumflex humeral artery
Posterior circumflex humeral artery (runs with axillary n)

Question 5

What are the 5 initial nerves that make up the brachial plexus?
What are the 5 major divisions of the plexus?

Answer 5

C5, 6, 7, 8, T1
Roots
Trunks
Divisions
Cords
Branches (Terminal branches) nerves

Question 6

Name the terminal branches of the plexus and their destinations

Answer 6

Musculocutaneous n. Corocobrachialis and lateral skin.
Medial n. middle of hand (carpal tunnel)
Ulnar n. to pinky
Axillary n. to deltoid
Radial n. to thumb (post groups?)

Question 7

Name the two branches of the Roots
What is their cranial nerve of origin?
What do they innervate?

Answer 7

Dorsal scapular n.
C5
Rhomboids and levator scapulae.

Long thoracic n.
C5, C6, C7
Serratus anterior m. (spread wings and go to heaven)

Question 8

Name the 2 branches of the superior trunk.

Innvervation?

Answer 8

Suprascapular n.
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus.

Nerve to the subclavius.

Question 9

Name the two nerves of the lateral cord.

Innervation?

Answer 9

Lateral pectoral n.
Pectoralis major m.
Accompanied by pectoral branch of thoracoacromial art.

Musculocutaneous n.
Pierces coracobrachialis m.
Anterior compartment of the arm.
Cutaneous distribution of lateral forearm.

Question 10

Name the three branches of the medial cord.

Innervation?

Answer 10

Medial brachial & Antebrachial cutaneous n.
Cutaneous to medial arm and forearm.

Medial pectoral n.
Pectoralis minor m.

Question 11

What injuries is the brachial plexus susceptible to?

Answer 11

The nerves are vulnerable to extensive stretching, such as motorcycle accidents, sleeping in a bad position for extensive time, Excessive traction during childbirth. Blunt Trauma producing nerve avulsions and disruption.

Question 12

What is the name of the artery of the arm when it leaves the arch of the aorta to the lateral side of the R. carotid artery?

Answer 12

Brachio-cephalic artery

Question 13

What is the order of the arterial branches of the subclavian art from medial to lateral?

Answer 13

Vertebral artery.
Thyro-Cervical Trunk
Internal mammary artery.
Costo-Cervicle Art.

Question 14

What are the branches of the Thyro-cervicle trunk of the Subclavian art?

Answer 14

a. Inferior Thyroid branch
b. Transverse Cervical branch
c. Supra-Scapular branch

Question 15

What are the 3 branches of the Brachial Art from superior to inferior and what do the supply?

Answer 15

Profunda Brachii art.–posterior aspect of arm; rides with radial n in radial groove
Superior Ulnar Collateral Art.–into blood vessel network for elbow
Inferior Ulnar Collateral Art. –into blood vessel network for elbow

Question 16

Where does the Vertebral artery go and what does it supply?

Answer 16

Rides up to supply the brain in foramina of cervical vertebra (one of 2 major vessels to supply the brain; other is internal carotid)

Question 17

What are the branches of the aorta and what are the branches of the branches of the aorta?

Answer 17

Left Branch–
Left common carotid
Left subclavian
Descending aorta

Right Branch–
Brachiocephalic with right common carotid.

Question 18

What structure does the Brachial Artery travel next to and what does it divide into?

Answer 18

Rides down under the biceps and divides into Radial art and Ulnar art.

Question 19

How do the Cephalic, Basilic, and Medial Cubital surface veins travel and where do they dump blood?

Answer 19

Cephalic–blood toward head, starts on thumb side, empties into axillary vein through pectoralis major.

Basilic–blood toward head, starts on little finger side, empties into brachial vein (becomes axillary vein)

Medial Cubital vein (at elbow)–connects basilic and cephalic veins.

Question 20

Define deep veins

Answer 20

Deep veins accompany the arteries, name the same as the arteries in almost every artery except;
Jugular vein: runs with Carotid artery.
Cardiac vein: runs with Coronary artery.

Question 21

Name the 2 lower extremity superficial veins and where they travel?

Answer 21

(Long) Great Saphenous Vein–big toe side, empties into femoral vein in groin (used for bypass and grafts)
(Short) Lesser Saphenous Vein–Little toe side, empties into popliteal vein (behind knee)

Question 22

What assessments are done to determine brachial plexus nerve injury?
In addition to direct trauma to a nerve, what bone injuries can cause problems?

Answer 22

Nerve conduction studies and electromyography.
Spinal cord injuries in the cervical region and direct pulling injuries tend to affect the roots of the brachial plaxius. Severe trauma to the first rib usually affects the trunks. Dislocation of the glenohumeral joint injures divisions and cords.