Unit 2 Flashcards
Brachial plexus
A complex of nerves which innervate the muscles of the upper limb, and the skin that overlies them.
Named nerves
Sorted from plexuses, these nerves come from multiple levels of the spinal cord to deliver motor and sensory innervation within a particular compartment of the limb.
What areas of the spinal cord are brachial plexus formed from?
Ventral rami C5-T1
When do plexuses form in embryos?
5-8 weeks gestation
The bone of the upper limb forms an axis which divides the limb transversely into two portions called:
- Preaxial portion
2. Postaxial portion
Describe the preaxial portion of the upper limb
The portion of the limb which lies on the cranial side of the long axis through the limb. (Thumb side)
Describe the postaxial portion of the upper limb
The portion of the limb which lies caudal to the long axis through the limb. (Pinky side)
During development, the preaxial and postaxial portions of the limb will each be further divided coronally into two compartments called:
- Anterior compartment
2. Posterior compartment
Anterior compartment is also considered to be ___ (flexor OR extensor) compartment.
Flexor compartment. Most of muscles in the anterior half of the limb flex the joints that they cross; when they contract, the angle between the bones decreases.
Posterior compartment is also considered to be ___ (flexor OR extensor) compartment.
Extensor compartment. Most of the muscles of the posterior aspect of the limb share the ability to extend at the joints (increase the angle between the bones).
What is a nerve plexus?
A collection of nerve fibers.
Which spinal nerves innervate the preaxial upper limb?
C5-C7
Which spinal nerves innervate the postaxial upper limb?
C8-T1
When is innervation established in upper limbs?
Innervation is established BEFORE the limb grows.
When the limbs grow longer during limb development, what happens to the innervation?
No matter how the limb’s shape changes, the innervation remains the same.
Each root of the brachial plexus branch from…
Ventral rami of spinal nerves from C5-T1.
They’re not the same thing as dorsal/ventral roots.
Roots of brachial plexus contain which fibers: Flexor (anterior), extensor (posterior), or both?
All 5 roots contain BOTH flexor (anterior) and extensor (posterior)
What are the 5 components of the brachial plexus?
- Roots
- Trunks
- Divisions
- Cords
- Named nerves
Roots C5-T1 branch into…
- Upper trunk: roots C5 and C6
- Middle trunk: root C7
- Lower trunk: roots C8 and T1
Trunks of brachial plexus contain which fibers: Flexor (anterior), extensor (posterior), or both?
All 3 trunks contain BOTH flexor (anterior) and extensor (posterior)
Each trunk branches into…
- Anterior division (3)
2. Posterior division (3)
Divisions of brachial plexus contain which fibers: Flexor (anterior), extensor (posterior), or both?
All 3 anterior divisions are ONLY flexor (anterior);
All 3 posterior divisions are ONLY extensor (posterior).
Each division branches into…
- Posterior cord: all posterior division fibers (C5-T1); lies posterior to axillary artery
- Lateral cord: anterior division fibers from upper and middle trunks (C5-C7); lateral to axillary artery
- Medial cord: anterior division fibers from lower trunk (C8-T1); medial to axillary artery
Cords of brachial plexus contain which fibers: Flexor (anterior), extensor (posterior), or both?
Posterior cord is ONLY extensor (posterior);
Lateral cord is ONLY flexor (anterior) from upper and middle trunks;
Medial cord is ONLY flexor (anterior) from lower lower trunk
Where are named nerves found in the brachial plexus?
Most named nerves branch from cords, but some branch directly from roots and trunks.
True/False: Named nerves can contain EITHER posterior division (extensor) OR anterior division (flexor) fibers, not both.
True
Draw the brachial plexus.
DO IT
Dorsal scapular nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5
Innervates rhomboid minor/major and levator scapulae
Long thoracic nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5-C7
Innervates serratus anterior muscle
Subclavian nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior division fibers from C5-C6
Innervates subclavius muscle
Suprascapular nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5-C6
Innervates supraspinatus and infraspinatus
Lateral pectoral nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior division fibers from C5-C6
Innervates pectoralis major
Medial pectoral nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior division fibers from C8-T1
Innervates pectoralis minor/major
Upper subscapular nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5-C6
Innervates subscapularis
Thoracodorsal (middle subscapular) nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior divisoin fibers from C6-C8
Innervates latissimus dorsi
Lower subscapular nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5-C6
Innervates subscapularis and teres major
Axillary nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5-C6
Innervates deltoid, teres minor, axilla
Musculocutaneous nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior division fibers from C5-C7
Innervates anterior compartment of the arm
Radial nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Posterior division fibers from C5-T1
Innervates posterior compartment of the arm and forearm
Median nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior divisoin fibers from C5-T1
Innervates anterior compartment of the forearm
Ulnar nerve
Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior division from C8-T1
Innervates forearm and hand (hella muscles; should probably know which ones)
Medial cutaneous (antebrachial) nerve Anterior or posterior division fibers?
Anterior division fibers from C8-T1
Medial cutaneous (brachial) nerve of the arm Anterior or posterior division fibers?
What muscle(s) does it innervate?
Anterior division fibers from C8-T1
Hilton’s Law
In general, a joint is innervated by branches from all of the named nerves that supply muscles which cross that joint and which produce movement at the joint.
If C8 root is damaged, which function(s) would be affected?
Motor and sensory function
Segmental innervation
A given muscle is usually innervated by fibers from only one or two of the spinal cord levels that are contained within a given named nerve.
Describe the general segmental innervation pattern for the upper limb
Muscles that move more proximal parts of the limb are innervated by cranially higher spinal levels.
Dermatomal pattern of cutaneous innervation v. Named nerves pattern of cutaneous innervation
Dermatome cutaneous segments are innervated by one spinal nerve level; Named nerve cutaneous segments are innervated by more than one spinal nerve levels.
The cutaneous territory of named nerves will span multiple dermatomes.
Dermatome for thumb
C6
Dermatome for middle finger
C7
Dermatome for digit 5 (pinky)
C8
Outline on yourself (or someone else!) the 7 areas of skin innervated by specific named cutaneous nerves.
- Area innervated by branches of the axillary nerve.
- Area in arm and forearm innervated by branches of the radial nerve (find superficial radial nerve).
- Lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve.
- Medial brachial cutaneous and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves.
- Cutaneous distribution of branches of the median nerve in the hand.
- Cutaneous distribution of branches of the ulnar nerve in the hand.
- Cutaneous distribution of branches of the radial nerve in the hand.
Clinical significance of dermatomes and named cutaneous nerves.
An individual who damages their median nerve at the wrist (as in carpal tunnel syndrome) would likely show an area of sensory change consistent with the median nerve’s sensory territory in the hand. An individual who has a tumor involving spinal nerve C5 or C6, or any other level, would show sensory deficits consistent with patterns of dermatomes.
Find and identify the 4 major cutaneous veins on yourself (or someone else!)
- Cephalic vein (preaxial vein)
- Basilic vein (postaxial vein)
- Median cubital vein
- Dorsal venous arch or network
The main structures in the anterior neck consists of…
Branches from roots and trunks of brachial plexus (supraclavicular brachial plexus);
Subclavian artery
Located superior to clavicle.
The main structures in the axilla consists of…
Branches from cords and named nerves of brachial plexus (infraclavicular brachial plexus);
Axillary artery
Located inferior to clavicle.
What does the brachial plexus pass through to get from the anterior neck to the axilla? What are the muscular/bony boundaries of this space?
Cervicoaxillary canal/triangle (bounded by neck muscles laterally, the clavicle anteriorly, and the scapula posteriorly).
Axillary sheath
Connective tissue sheath that encases thee fat-filled space that the axillary artery and brachial plexus run through.
Name and identify the 6 main branches and their sub-branches of the axillary artery.
- Supreme thoracic artery
- Thoracoacromial trunk (Pectoral, deltoid, acromial, and clavicular branches)
- Lateral thoracic artery
- Subscapular artery (Thoracodorsal artery and Circumflex scapular artery)
- Anterior humeral circumflex artery
- Posterior humeral circumflex artery
Scapular arterial anastomosis
Collateral pathways (via arteries that supply posterior scapula) for if there is a blockage in the axillary artery in the axilla region between the thyrocervical trunk and the subscapular artery.
Arteries do not have valves, so they can flow backwards if needed!
What happens if there is a blockage in the artery proximal to the thyrocervical trunk or distal to the subscapular artery?
It would interrupt blood flow to the upper limb with no way around the blockage in those regions.
Explain the blood flow directions for scapular arterial anastomosis.
- Blood flow goes to posterior side of the scapula through either dorsal scapular artery OR the suprascapular artery.
- Within and deep to the muscles on the posterior scapula, branches of the above mentioned blood vessels anastomose with branches of the circumflex scapular artery.
- These will lead to the subscapular artery and then back into the axillary artery to reach the upper limb.
Postaxial polydactyly
Congenital physical anomaly of having an extra digit on postaxial side.
How are cords named in the brachial plexus?
Cords (lateral, medial, and posterior) are named in relation to the axillary artery.
What kind of fibers do named cutaneous nerves carry?
Sensory and sympathetic
Thoracic outlet syndrome and 3 ways for how it may occur.
Compression of nerves, arteries, or veins in the passageway of the cervicoaxillary canal/triangle. May occur when:
- Extra rib in cervical vertebrae
- Tumor in apex of lung
- Overdeveloped scalene muscles
The brachial plexus is located in the axilla. The 4 walls of the axillary fossa are:
- Humerus (lateral wall)
- Latissimus dorsi (posterior wall)
- Serratus anterior and ribs (medial wall)
- Pectoralis major (anterior wall)
Which vein is located on the preaxial muscle masses?
Cephalic vein
Which vein is located on the postaxial muscle masses?
Basilic vein
3 joints of shoulder
- Glenohumeral
- Acromioclavicular
- Sternoclavicular
3 joints of elbow (all within same joint capsule)
- Humeroulnar
- Humeroradial
- Proximal radioulnar
The 4 supraclavicular branches (that can be found on the diagram for our class) of the brachial plexus are…
- Dorsal scapular nerve
- Long thoracic nerve
- Subclavius nerive
- Supraspinatus nerve
Which spinal cord levels generally innervate hand joints?
C8-T1
Which spinal cord levels generally innervate elbow joints?
C6-C7
Which spinal cord levels generally innervate shoulder joints?
C5-C6
Which spinal cord levels generally innervate wrist joints?
C7-C8
What are the 3 bones of the shoulder joints?
- Clavicle
- Scapula
- Humerus
Sternoclavicular joints and acromioclavicular joints of the shoulder girdle are __axial joints.
Multiaxial
What is the name of the only bony articulation between the shoulder girdle and the axial skeleton?
Sternoclavicular joint
What are anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments and what movement direction do they limit?
Capsular ligaments (thickenings of the joint capsule itself) of sternoclavicular joint located on anterior and posterior side.
Limits movement in all directions
What are interclavicular ligaments, what joint are they associated with, and what movement direction do they limit?
Extracapsular ligaments (located outside of joint capsule) of sternoclavicular joint that extend btwn sternal ends of two clavicles across the jugular (sternal) notch.
Limits excessive depression of shoulder girdle (good for not hitting brachial plexus)
What are costoclavicular ligaments, what joint are they associated with, and what movement direction do they limit?
Extracapsular ligament (located outside of joint capsule) of sternoclavicular joint that extends btwn first rib and clavicle bilaterally.
Limits unwanted superior movement (elevation) of clavicle, which occurs as a component of shoulder girdle elevation. It’s the fulcrum of many movements at SC joint.
What are coracoclavicular ligaments, what joint are they associated with, and what movement direction do they limit? What are the name of its parts?
Extracapsular ligament (located outside of joint capsule) of acromioclavicular joint that unites acromion of scapula and clavicle with its 2 ligaments: conoid and trapezoid.
Limits upward movement (elevation) of clavicle for STABILIZING clavicle.
Shoulder separation
Dislocation of acromioclavicular joint (usually due to trauma or tearing of acromioclavicular joint capsule and/or coracoclavicular ligament.
Which bone is the most frequently fractured bone in the body?
Clavicle
What are coracoacromial ligaments, what joint are they associated with, and what movement direction do they limit?
Extracapsular ligament (located outside of joint capsule) of glenohumeral joint that extends btwn coracoid process and acromion of scapula.
Limits upward dislocation of humeral head ( like a “roof”).
Shoulder girdle movements occur at which joints?
Sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints.
Elevation and depression of shoulder girdle occurs in what axis and what plane?
AP axis through SC joint
Coronal plane
Protraction and retraction of shoulder girdle occurs in what axis and what plane? What other name do these movements go by?
Vertical axis through SC joint
Horizontal plane
Also called abduction and adduction of scapula.
Shoulder girdle rotation (scapular, clavicular, and glenoid fossa rotation) occurs in what axis and what plane?
Upward rotation of glenoid fossa (lateral movement of inferior angle); downward rotation of glenoid fossa (medial movement of inferior angle).
Oblique axis through SC joint and scapular notch
Oblique plane
Scapulothoracic joint
Not a true joint, but rather an important plane of movement for the movements of the scapula (at AC and SC joints) along the body wall.
Rotational movements of scapula occur in a gliding plane between serratus anterior and subscapularis.
Which joint is commonly referred to as the “shoulder joint”?
Glenohumeral joint. It has the greatest ROM of any joint in the body (and also most unstable).
Glenohumeral joint articulation
Glenoid fossa of scapula and head of humerus
Glenohumeral ligaments, what type they are, and their functions
Capsular ligaments.
Limits movement when arm is aDducted.
What is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body?
Glenohumeral joint
What is the glenoid labrum and what does it do?
A fibrocartilaginous ring that attaches at the circumference of the glenoid fossa.
It deepens concavity of glenoid fossa by 50% which increases congruity and helps maintain a uniform film of synovial fluid across the joint surface.
What tendon unusually passes through the glenohumeral joint space to reach its attachment? Why?
Biceps brachii passes through on its way to the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula.
This positioning of tendon helps prevent superior movement of the humeral head.
Shoulder dislocation
A displacement of the head of the humerus from the glenoid fossa, usually in an anterior or inferior direction. This may stretch or tear the shoulder joint capsule.
Scapulohumeral rhythm
Movements at the GH joint occur in concert with movements of the shoulder girdle, at the SC and AC joints for full aBduction.
Note: position of glenoid fossa shifts with EVERY movement of the shoulder girdle.
What movements does the scapulohumeral rhythm make significant contributions to? Breakdown the degree of movement btwn scapula rotation and glenohumeral joint.
Full abduction and full flexion of the arm (180°)
60° (scapula and clavicle rotation) + 120° (humerus aBduction at GH joint) = 180° (full abduction and flexion)
Accessory movements of shoulder joint necessary for full ROM at GH joint
An inferior gliding and lateral rotation of the humeral head that occurs as a component of aBduction.
These movements help prevent collision of head/tubercles of humerus and acromion during full aBduction.
3 passive (static) stabilizers of GH joint
- Glenoid labrum
- Glenohumeral ligaments
- Coracohumeral ligaments
3 dynamic stabilizers of GH joint
- Rotator cuff muscles
- Deltoid
- Tendon of long head of biceps brachii
What direction do dynamic stabilizers pull the head of humerus?
Medially to maintain good contact w/ articular surface of glenoid fossa.
What are bursae, where are they found, and what do they do?
A flattened sac of connective tissue lined by synovial membrane; the sac contains a small amount of synovial fluid.
Found btwn structures that are in close contact w/ each other and where movements occurs btwn structures.
Prevents friction and facilitates free movement btwn adjacent moving structures.
Subacromial bursa location
Btwn acromion process of scapula and superior surface of shoulder joint capsule. Allows the tendon of supraspinatus to slide freely under the acromion.
Subdeltoid bursa
Btwn deltoid muscle and humeral head, allowing deltoid muscle to freely glide over bone.
Bursitis
Condition associated with inflammation of a bursa.
Which shoulder joints have interarticular discs?
Sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints.
Which muscle mainly helps with maintaining stability of the GH joint?
Musculotendinous (rotator) cuff
Subclavian artery changes its name twice. At what points does it change its name and what names does it change to?
Subclavian artery passes under clavicle and into arm –> axillary artery passes pec minor –> brachial artery
What are the two major arteries that branch off the axillary artery underneath the pec minor muscle?
Thoracoacromial trunk and lateral thoracic artery
What are the fiber types of the brachial plexus and where are the cell bodies located?
Sensory (in DRG) Voluntary motor (Ventral horn) Postganglionic sympathetic (Sympathetic chain)
Axillary lymph nodes
Extensive lymph nodes and vessels surround the axillary vessels and their branches.
Shoulder girdle (or pectoral girdle) consists of these two bones
Scapula and clavicle
Main function of acromioclavicular joint
To link scapula and clavicle together form a functional unit (so shoulder girdle can move as a unit).
What kind of functional joint is the acromioclavicular joint?
Synovial joint (gliding movement of about 15 degrees; moves when scapula moves/acromion rotates on clavicle)
What are superior and inferior acromioclavicular ligaments, what joint are they associated with, and what movement direction do they limit?
Connects lateral end of clavicle to the upper surface of acromion in acromioclavicular joint.
Link bones together.
Effects of paralysis of trapezius
- Exaggerated shoulder girdle depression, at rest.
- Some weakness in shoulder girdle elevation.
- Weakened retraction of shoulder girdle.
- Diminished ability to fully aBduct and flex the arm bc of weakness in ability to upwardly rotate glenoid fossa (scapulohumeral rhythm).
Effects of paralysis of rhomboids
- Scapula has tendency to protract or move anteriorly around body wall as a result of weight of free limb.
- Loss of rhomboid function weakens ability to extend and aDduct arm against resistance.