Equine Nerves of the Brachial Plexus Flashcards
Study of the nerves of a horse
Origin of Brachial Plexus
C6, C7, C8, T1 & T2
Origin of the Long Thoracic Nerve
C7 & C8
Origin of the Thoracodorsal Nerve
C7 & C8
Origin of the Lateral Thoracic Nerve
C8 & T1
Origin of the Cranial Pectoral Nerve
C6, C7 & C8
Origin of the Caudal Pectoral Nerve
C8 & T1
Origin of the Subscapular Nerve
C6 & C7
Origin of the Suprascapular Nerve
C6
Origin of the Axiliary Nerve
C7 & C8
Origin of the Cranial Cutaneous Nerve of the Arm
Its a cutaneous branch of the Axillary Nerve
Origin of the Musculocutaneous Nerve
C6, C7 & C8
Origin of the Ulnar Nerve
C8, T1 and sometimes T2
Origin of the Caudal Cutaneous Nerve of the Foreleg
Emerges in middle 1/3 of the foreleg
Origin of the Radial Nerve
C7, C8, & T1
Origin of the Median Nerve
C8 & T1
Function of the Brachial Plexus
Its a network of nerves that innervate the thoracic limb, part of thoracic Wall & muscles of the thoracic girdle
The Brachial Plexus can be divided into 3 groups of nerves, what are they?
- Nerves of the trunk
- Nerves of the back
- Nerves of the thoracic limb
Function/location of the Long Thoracic Nerve
Most dorsal nerve of the Brachial Plexus & found on the lateral surface of the Ventral Thoracic Serratus Muscle which it innervates
Function of the Thoracodorsal Nerve
It innervates the Latissimus Dorsi Muscle
Function of the Lateral Thoracic Nerve
It innervates the Deep Pectoral and Cutaneous muscles of the trunk
Function of the Cranial Pectoral Nerve
Generally 2 nerves which innervate the Superficial Pectoral muscles. It has no cutaneous branch.
Function of the Caudal Pectoral Nerve
There are 3 or 4 of these, they innervate the Deep Pectoral muscles
Function of the Subscapular Nerve
It penetrates and innervates the Scapularis Muscle. It has no cutaneous branches
Function/location of the Suprascapular Nerve
Main contributor to Suprascapular Nerve. Its located between the Subscapularis and the Supraspinatus muscles on its way to the lateral aspect of the Scapular where it innervates the Supraspinatus & Infraspinatus muscles
Function/location of the Axillary Nerve
Runs from axillary space to lateral region of foreleg passing between the bellies of Teres Minor & Teres Major Muscles It innervates most flexor muscles of the shoulder (Tere Minor, Teres Major & Deltoids) & the Scapularis Muscle
Function of the Cranial Lateral Cutaneous Nerve of the foreleg
It innervates the skin of the lateral & cranial regions of the forelimb, cranial to the Elbow
Function of the Musculocutaneous Nerve
It innervates the flexor muscles of the forelimb, palmer plane of the Carpus, Metacarpus & Digits
Function/location of the Ulnar Nerve
Running caudal to the Median nerve it innervates the flexor muscles in the area, skin of the caudal plane of the forelimb & lateral plane of the distal limb
Function/location of the Caudal Cutaneous Nerve
After emerging in middle 1.3 of forelimb it forms branches for some of the Flexor muscles of the Carpus, continues distally & splits again forming the dorsal & palmer branches
Function/location of the Radial Nerve
Thickest nerve of the Brachial Plexus found between the long and medial heads of the Triceps muscle which it innervates. It has numerous branches, the most proximal being muscular branches. It then bifurcates in the deep (Motor) and superficial (Sensory) nerves of the forelimb. The superficial branch bifurcates again into the lateral & medial branches. The lateral branch splits again forming the lateral cutaneous nerves of the forelimb.
Function/location of the Median Nerve
Runs along medial aspect of the forelimb. It bifurcates with the Musculocutaneous nerve above the Elbow. In the belly of the Pronator Teres muscle (in Elbow) it reaches the forelimb where muscular branches innervates some of the flexor muscles of the Carpus & digits
