Upper Extremity Nerves and Vessels

Question 1

Subclavian artery

Answer 1

Derived from: brachiocephalic trunk on the right side, aortic arch on the left
Empties into: axillary artery
Travels along and passes under the clavicle where it will change names

Question 2

Axillary artery

Answer 2

Derived from: subclavian artery
Empties into: brachial artery
Travels across the axillary region, has thoracoacromial trunk branch most medial, then lateral thoracic, then posterior and anterior humeoral circumflex, then subscapular before finally changing names into brachial artery

Question 3

Posterior and anterior humoral circumflex arteries

Answer 3

Derived from: axillary artery

Travel around the surgical and anatomical neck of the humerus (respectively) and anastamose together

Question 4

Lateral thoracic artery

Answer 4

Derived from: axillary artery

Travels along the chest wall before dipping around to supply the lats

Question 5

Subscapular artery

Answer 5

Derived from: axillary artery

Travels around to supply the posterior shoulder and eventually the lats

Question 6

Brachial artery

Answer 6

Derived from:axillary artery
Empties into: radial and ulnar arteries
Travels from name change of the axillary artery at the beginning of the arm, has a branch profunda brachial artery coming off, continues into the cubital fossa and the forearm where it divides into radial and ulnar arteries

Question 7

Profunda brachial artery

Answer 7

Derived from: brachial artery

Travels deep to supply the posterior arm

Question 8

Radial artery

Answer 8

Derived from: brachial artery
Empties into: deep palmar arch artery
Travels from the brachial artery to supply along the radius, can be palpated, empties into the deep palmar arch artery

Question 9

Ulnar artery

Answer 9

Derived from: brachial artery
Empties into: superficial palmar arch artery
Travels from brachial artery to supply along the ulna, empties into superficial palamr artery

Question 10

Superficial and deep palmar arteries

Answer 10

Derived from: ulnar and radial arteries respectively

Travel along the palmar face of the hand and anastamose together for recurrent blood supply of the hand

Question 11

Cephalic vein

Answer 11

Travels on the superficial anterior face of the forearm, has a branch in the cubital fossa of the median cubital vein, then travels up the arm over the beceps brachii before turning 90 degrees and draining into the axillary vein

Question 12

Basilic vein

Answer 12

Travels along the medial face of the forearm, has a branch in the cubital fossa of the median cubitla vein, then travels up the medial arm before draining into the border between brachial and axillary veins

Question 13

Muculocutaneous nerve

Answer 13

Derived from: lateral cord of the brachial plexus,

Travels to innervate the anterior arm

Question 14

Axillary nerve

Answer 14

Derived from: posterior cord of the brachial plexus

Travels to innervate deltoids and teres minor

Question 15

Radial nerve

Answer 15

Derived from: posterior cord of the brachial plexus
Travels to innervate the posterior arm and deep next to the profunda brachii artery before moving anteriolaterally around the lateral epicondyle of the humerous through the cubital fossa to then supply the dorsum of the forearm and dorsum of hand up to digit four

Question 16

Median nerve

Answer 16

Derived from: Lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus
Travels deep in the anterior arm alongside profunda brachii artery into the cubital fossa, it continues into the anterior forearm to supply most of that bad boy and travels through the carpal tunnel to supply the palmar hand up to digit four

Question 17

Ulnar nerve

Answer 17

Derived from: the medial cord of the brachial plexus
Travels posteriomedially down the arm, through the medial epicondyle (where it can be easily struck), and then down the medial forarm (only supplying the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle) before reaching the hand to supply the 5th and part of the 4th digit dorsally and palmar