Review Questions for Brachial Plexus/ Overview of Arm Flashcards
What are the different types of humeral fractures?
Supracondylar fracture of humerus Fracture of neck of Humerus Fracture of Surgical Neck Fracture in shaft of humerus Midshaft fracture
What nerves flexes the distal interphalanges of ring and little fingers?
The ulnar nerve
What artery and nerve can be injured/affected if there is a supracondylar fracture?
Brachial artery and median nerve
What physical deficits of the arm can occur if a supracondylar fracture happens?
Weakness in pronation (palms facing down), flexion, and grip strength —-due to the median nerve being affected
What can cause Volkmann’s ischemic contracture?
A supracondylar fracture
IF there is a fracture in the surgical neck, what artery and nerve will be affected/injured?
the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery (branch off third part of axillary artery)
Also note that the profunda brachii (branch off of brachial artery) anastomosis with posterior circumflex humeral artery
What physical deficits of the arm can occur if a fracture of the surgical neck happens?
bruising and dimpling of upper arm OR if carpal tunnel if median nerve is compressed
If there is a fracture in the shaft of the humerus, what nerve and artery is affected?
The radial nerve and the deep brachial artery
What nerves are affected if there is a midshaft fracture?
Superficial nerves, such as:
Antebrachial cutaneous
Intercostal brachial cutaneous
The main nerves are too deep to be injured
T1 is the principal motor supply for:
The flexion of fingers (median and ulnar nerves)
What is the terminal branch of the posterior cord?
The axillary nerve
What are the terminal branches of the medial cord?
Intercostal brachial and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves
What is the Sergeant’s patch?
skin over the lower aspect of the deltoid region (C4 dermatome)
What is Nursemaid’s elbow?
When the hand of a child is pulled too hard so the head of the radius is pulled from the annular ligament—-happens in children under the age of 5 y/o
What is popeye’s sign?
That is the bulging of the biceps brachii (long head) through the elbow
What is a Ginglymus joint?
A hinge joint that allows flexion and extension of the humeroulnar joint.
What is Monteggia’s fracture?
Fracture of the ulna and anterior displacement of radius
What is Galeazza’s fracture?
Fracture of the radius associated with subluxation
What is Colle’s fracture?
Also known as “diner’s fork”
A posterior displacement of distal end of radius
What is Smith’s fracture?
Also known as “reverse Colle’s fascia”
Anterior displacement of distal end of radius (in palmar direction)
What nerves branches off the upper trunk?
Suprascapular and subclavian nerve
What does the suprascapular innervates?
Innervates the supraspinatus and infraspinatus
ABducts the scapula
What is the spinal segment of spinal accessory nerve
(CN X)I?
axillary nerve –> C5-C6
What does the axillary nerve innervates?
The teres minor and the deltoid
“laterally rotates arm and ABducts the arm 15-90 degrees”
What roots of the brachial plexus (if injured) is responsible for “winged-scapula”?
ventral rami of C5-C7—> long thoracic nerve
What roots of the brachial plexus keeps the diaphragm “alive”?
Accessory phrenic nerve —> C4 and C5
Ventral Rami of T1 supplies what part of the skin?
medial side of arm and forearm
What nerve is responsible for, if injured, “wrist drop” and weakened supination?
radial nerve
Radial nerve damage in the spinal groove will paralyze what muscles of the hand?
ABductor pollicis and both extensors of the thumb.
_______ causes paleness, coolness, and loss of pulse.
Compartment syndrome
What artery branches off the first part of the axillary artery?
The superior thoracic artery
What arteries branch off the second part of the axillary artery?
The thoracoacromial artery and lateral thoracic artery
What arteries branch off the third part of the axillary artery?
Subscapular artery, anterior and posterior circumflex humeral artery
The subscapular artery branches into?
The circumflex scapular AND thoracodorsal artery
The circumflex scapular artery anastomosis with what arteries?
Dorsal scapular artery and suprascapular artery
What muscles elevates the scapula?
deltoid, biceps brachii and coracobrachialis
What ADducts the scapula?
Latissimus dorsi, teres major and pectoralis major
When the shoulder “droops”, this shows that there is a problem with what nerve?
Spinal accessory nerve— plays a role in rotating the head and raising shoulders
What is an example of a lower trunk (C8-T1) injury?
Klump’s paralysis or claw hand — when a baby is pulled out by its arm or a person reaches too far
What is an example of Upper Trunk injury?
“Waiter’s tip” — increased angle between neck and shoulder
When the axillary nerve and musculocutaneous nerve is injured and the deltoid and teres minor isn’t innervated.
Medially rotated arm, ADducted shoulder, and arm is extended
What nerve branches of the middle trunk?
The subscapular nerve which medially rotates arm (C7)
