The brachial plexus 2 of 2 (dave's notes)

Question 1

What branches arise from the roots of the brachial plexus?

Answer 1

Dorsal scapular nerve
Nerve to subclavius
Long thoracic nerve

Question 2

What branches arise from the trunks of the brachial plexus?

Answer 2

Suprascapular nerve

Question 3

What branches arise from the lateral cord?

Answer 3

Lateral pectoral
Musculocutaneous (terminal branch)
Lateral root of median nerve (terminal branch)

Question 4

What branches arise from the medial cord?

Answer 4

Medial pectoral
Medial root of median nerve (terminal branch)
Medial cutaneous nerve of the arm
Medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm
Ulnar nerve (terminal branch)

Question 5

What branches arise from the posterior cord?

Answer 5

Upper subscapular
Thoracodorsal
lower sub scapular
Axillary nerve (terminal branch)
Radial nerve (terminal branch)

Question 6

What becomes of the lateral pectoral nerve?

Answer 6

Supplies pectoralis major, and with the medial pectoral nerve supplies pectoralis minor. No cutaneous supply.

Question 7

What becomes of the musculocutaneous nerve?

Answer 7

Sinks into coracobrachialis to supply biceps, brachial is, and become the lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm

Question 8

What becomes of the lateral root of the median nerve?

Answer 8

It embraces the artery with its fellow

Question 9

What is the course of the medial pectoral nerve?

Answer 9

Arises behind the axillary artery, deep to the surface of pectoralis minor, then pec major

Question 10

What becomes of the lateral root of the median nerve?

Answer 10

Embraces the axillary artery with its fellow

Question 11

What is the course of the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm?

Answer 11

It runs down on the axillary vein to supply the medial arm skin

Question 12

What is the course of the median cutaneous nerve of the forearm?

Answer 12

It runs between the artery and vein to eventually supply the medial forearm skin

Question 13

What is the course of the ulnar nerve?

Answer 13

It runs between the artery and vein behind the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm, to the small muscles of the hand

Question 14

What does the upper subscapular nerve supply?

Answer 14

This is a small nerve to subscapularis

Question 15

What does the thoracodorsal nerve supply?

Answer 15

This is a large nerve to latissimus dorsi, exposed in lateral rotation/abduction, and therefore at risk.

Question 16

What does the lower subscapular nerve supply?

Answer 16

The lower part of the subscapular muscle

Question 17

What is the course and destination of the axillary nerve?

Answer 17

Passes backwards through the QL ?quadrilateral space near the humerus, with anterior branch to deltoid, posterior to teres minor and the ulnar lateral cutaneous nerve?

Question 18

What is the course of the radial nerve?

Answer 18

Largest branch of the brachial plexus, passes down through the posterior axillary wall through th triangular space.