Nerves of the Thoracic Limb

Question 1

Cranial pectoral nerves

Answer 1

Superficial pectoral muscle

Question 2

Caudal pectoral nerves

Answer 2

Deep pectoral muscle

Question 3

Lateral thoracic nerve

Answer 3

Cutaneous trunci muscle

[Panniculus reflex]

Question 4

Suprascapular nerve

Answer 4

Lateral stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint

Question 5

Subscapular nerve

Answer 5

Subscapular muscle

Question 6

Musculocutaneous nerve

Answer 6

Extensors of the shoulder

Flexors of the elbow

Question 7

In the dog, at the level of the proximal brachium, what two nerves communicate (have a communicating branch)?

Answer 7

Median nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve

Question 8

Axillary nerve

Answer 8

Stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint

Question 9

Thoracodorsal nerve

Answer 9

Latissimus dorsi muscle

Question 10

Radial nerve

Answer 10

Extensors of the elbow
Extensors of the carpus
Extensors of the digits

Question 11

Median nerve

Answer 11

Pronators of the antebrachium

Question 12

Ulnar nerve

Answer 12

Flexors of the carpus and digits

Question 13

Damage to the radial nerve at the level of the proximal brachium. Clinical signs?

Answer 13

Inability to extend elbow
Inability to extend carpus
Inability to extend digits
[Unable to bear weight on the limb]

Question 14

Damage to the radial nerve at the level of the distal brachium. Clinical signs?

Answer 14

Inability to extend carpus
Inability to extend digits
Loss of feeling on dorsal aspect of manus

[knuckling over]

Question 15

Cutaneous zone of musculocutaneous nerve

Answer 15

Medial brachium and antebrachium to the level of the carpus

Question 16

Cutaneous zone of ulnar nerve

Answer 16

Caudolateral brachium and antebrachium, fifth digit

Question 17

Cutaneous zone of radial nerve

Answer 17

Lateral and dorsal antebrachium and manus

Question 18

Cutaneous zone of brachiocephalic nerve

Answer 18

Cranial brachium

Question 19

Cutaneous zone of axillary nerve

Answer 19

Caudal brachium and scapula

Question 20

What forms the brachial plexus?

Answer 20

The ventral roots of spinal nerves C6-T2

Question 21

Brachial plexus avulsion C7-T1.
Which nerve’s roots have been disturbed?
What are expected clinical signs?

Answer 21

Radial nerve roots damaged, animal will be unable to bear weight on the affected side

Question 22

Brachial plexus avulsion C6 and C7.
Which nerve’s roots have been disturbed?
What are expected clinical signs?

Answer 22

Suprascapular and subscapular nerve roots

Animal will have instability in the shoulder and have difficulty advancing the limb

Question 23

Brachial plexus avulsion C6-C8.
Which nerve’s roots have been disturbed?
What are expected clinical signs?

Answer 23

Musculocutaneous nerve roots damaged

Animal will have difficulty lifting the limb off the floor and will be unable to flex the elbow

Question 24

Unilateral mieosis indicates damage to which nerve(s)?

Answer 24

Damage to T1, may accompany brachial plexus injury

Question 25

The Panniculus reflex tests what?

Answer 25

Evaluates ascending pathways of C8-T1 (especially the lateral thoracic nerve)

Question 26

Which two nerves pass through the carpal canal?

Answer 26

Ulnar nerve and median nerve

Question 27

Which nerves supply the glenohumeral joint?

Answer 27

Axillary nerve

Suprascapular nerve

Question 28

Which nerves supply the cubital (elbow) joint?

Answer 28

Radial nerve
Ulnar nerve
Median nerve
Musculocutaneous nerve

Question 29

Which nerves supply the carpal and digital joints?

Answer 29

Radial nerve
Ulnar nerve
Median nerve

Question 30

Damage to what nerve causes the spine of the scapula to be visible on a living animal? What species does this occur in?

Answer 30

Suprascapular nerve

Equine

Question 31

Why are horses especially prone to Sweeney?

Answer 31

Horses do not have an acromion

Question 32

Which two nerves share a common trunk in the canine?

Answer 32

Median nerve and ulnar nerve

Question 33

Which two nerves share a common trunk in the equine?

Answer 33

Median nerve and musculocutaneous nerve

Question 34

In the equine forelimb, which nerve sends a branch to join the lateral palmar nerve? Which branch is it?

Answer 34

Ulnar nerve, palmar branch

Question 35

A canine presents to your clinic with a markedly over extended carpus, what nerve(s) do you expect to be damaged? What cutaneous zone(s) would you test?

Answer 35

Median and ulnar nerves

Palmar aspect of paw and lateral aspect of paw (5th digit)