L19: Brachial and lumbosacral plexuses Flashcards
(29 cards)
central nervous system
brain, spinal chord
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside brain and spinal cord
e.g. upper and lower limb
anterior (ventral) root:
motor
posterior (dorsal) root:
sensory
each spinal nerve is formed by the union of:
anterior [ventral] root
posterior [dorsal] root
where does spinal nerves leave the vertebral column
intervertebral foramina
outside the vertebral column, spinal nerves divide into:
posterior [dorsal] ramus
anterior [ventral] ramus
what plexus innervates upperlimb
brachial plexus
what plexus innervates lower limb
lumbar and sacral plexuses
structure of a nerve
signals travel in both directions
consist of many axons, each axon carries its own signal
motor axons
[efferent]
carry signal to a muscle
sensory axons
[afferent]
carry signals back to the spinal cord
brachial plexus location
brachial plexus formed by C5-T1 spinal nerves
structure - brachial plexus
5 roots
3 trunks
6 divisions
3 cords
cords
cords named due to relationship to axillary artery
axillary artery lies between the medial and lateral cords, and anterior to the posterior cord
trunks and divisions
each trunk splits into anterior and posterior divisions
divisions and cords
3 posterior divisions: unite to form the posterior cord
3 anterior divisions: upper 2 unite to form the lateral cord, lower trunk forms the medial cord
branches root level
dorsal scapular nerve
phrenic nerve
long thoracic nerve
branches trunk level
only in superior trunk
suprascapular nerve
subclavian
branches: cords - lateral cord
lateral pectoral nerve
musculocutaneous nerve
median nerve contribution
branches: cords - posterior cord [STARS]
subscapular [upper] nerve
thoracodorsal nerve
axillary nerve
radial nerve
subscapular [lower] nerve
branches: cords - medial cord
medial pectoral nerve
medial cutaneous nerve of arm
medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
median nerve contribution
ulnar nerve
Lumber plexus
T12-L5
passes laterally through psoas major
passes anterior to hip joint
what does lumbar plexus innervate
innervates pelvis muscles, anterior and medial thigh