Dissection Room work

Question 1

What is the brachial plexus?

Answer 1

The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibres that supplies the skin and musculature of the upper limb

Question 2

Where does the brachial plexus extend from and what does it consists of?

Answer 2

The upper limb is supplied by five spinal nerve roots (C5-T1). These roots contribute to the brachial plexus, where nerve fibres are exchanged and redistributed to form the five main peripheral nerves of the upper limb. The brachial plexus consists of roots (5), trunks (3), divisions, (6) and cords (3) from which the 5 main branches arise.

Question 3

Name the 5 major branches of the brachial plexus?

Read the motor and sensory functions of these nerves

Answer 3

• Musculo-cutaneous nerve
• Radial nerve
• Axillary nerve
• Median nerve
• Ulnar nerve

Question 4

Where is the axillary nerve, radial nerve, ulnar nerve and median nerve suspectable to damage

Answer 4

• the axillary nerve - within the axilla
• the radial nerve - as it winds around the shaft of the humerus
• the ulnar nerve - as it passes behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus
• the median nerve deep to the flexor retinaculum in the wrist

Question 5

Identify the nerves of the brachial plexus

Answer 5

On image

Question 6

Identify the origin of the brachial plexus

Answer 6

On image