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Brachial plexus
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Nerve: Brachial plexus

The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed

from in front.

Latin

plexus brachialis

Gray's

subject #210 930

From

C5, C6, C7, C8, T1

MeSH

Brachial+plexus

The brachial plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed
by the ventral rami of the lower cervical and upper thoracic nerve roots, specifically from
above the fifth cervical vertebra to underneath the first thoracic vertebra (C5-T1). It
proceeds through the neck, the axilla (armpit region) and into the arm.

Contents
[hide]

1 Function
2 Anatomy
o 2.1 Path
3 Diagram
o 3.1 Specific branches
4 Additional images
5 See also
6 References

7 External links

[edit] Function
The brachial plexus is responsible for cutaneous and muscular innervation of the entire
upper limb, with two exceptions: the trapezius muscle innervated by the spinal accessory
nerve and an area of skin near the axilla innervated by the intercostobrachialis nerve.
Therefore, brachial plexus lesions can lead to severe functional impairment.[1]

[edit] Anatomy
[edit] Path
One can remember the order of brachial plexus elements by way of the mnemonic, "Read
The Damn Cadaver Book" (Or, alternatively, Real Teenagers Drink Cold Beer") - Roots,
Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches[2] or - Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords,
Collateral/Pre-terminal Branches, and (Terminal) Branches.

The five roots are the five anterior rami of the spinal nerves, after they have given
off their segmental supply to the muscles of the neck.

These roots merge to form three trunks:

o "superior" or "upper" (C5-C6)
o "middle" (C7)
o "inferior" or "lower" (C8-T1)

Each trunk then splits in two, to form six divisions:

o anterior division of the upper, middle and lower trunks
o posterior division of the upper, middle, and lower trunks

These six divisions will regroup to become the three cords. The cords are named
by their position in respect to the axillary artery.
o The posterior cord is formed from the three posterior divisions of the
trunks (C5-T1)
o The lateral cord is the anterior divisions from the upper and middle trunks
(C5-C7)
o The medial cord is simply a continuation of the anterior division of the
lower trunk (C8-T1)

The branches are listed below. Most branch from the cords, but a few branch
(indicated in italics) directly from earlier structures. The five in bold are
considered "terminal branches".

[edit] Diagram

[edit] Specific branches

One can remember the specific branches of lateral, posterior and medial cord
using the mnemonic LML ULNAR M4U respectively.
o LML - lateral pectoral nerve , musculocutaneous nerve , lateral root of the
median nerve.
o ULNAR - upper subscapular nerve , lower subscapular nerve , nerve to
latissmus dorsi (thoracodorsal nerve) , axillary nerve , radial nerve.
o M4U - medial pectoral nerve , medial root of the median nerve , medial
cutaneous nerve of the arm , medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm , ulnar
nerve.

From

Nerve

Roots Muscles

roots

dorsal scapular nerve C5

roots

long thoracic nerve

rhomboid muscles and

levator scapulae

Cutaneous

C5, C6,
serratus anterior
C7

C5, C6 subclavius muscle

superior
supraspinatus and
suprascapular nerve C5, C6
trunk
infraspinatus

superior nerve to the

trunk
subclavius

lateral
cord

pectoralis major (by

C5, C6,
lateral pectoral nerve
communicating with the C7
medial pectoral nerve)

lateral
cord

musculocutaneous
nerve

coracobrachialis,
C5, C6,
brachialis and biceps
C7
brachii

becomes the lateral

cutaneous nerve of the
forearm

lateral
cord

lateral root of the

median nerve

C5, C6, fibres to the median

C7
nerve

subscapularis (upper
part)

posterior upper subscapular

cord
nerve

C5, C6

thoracodorsal nerve
posterior
(middle subscapular
cord
nerve)

C6, C7,
latissimus dorsi
C8

posterior lower subscapular

cord
nerve

C5, C6

posterior
axillary nerve
cord

anterior branch: deltoid

and a small area of
overlying skin
C5, C6
posterior branch: teres
minor and deltoid
muscles

posterior
radial nerve
cord

triceps brachii, supinator, skin of the posterior

C5, C6,
anconeus, the extensor arm as the posterior
C7, C8,
muscles of the forearm, cutaneous nerve of the
T1
and brachioradialis
arm

subscapularis (lower part

) and teres major

posterior branch
becomes upper lateral
cutaneous nerve of the
arm

medial
cord

medial pectoral nerve C8, T1

pectoralis major and

pectoralis minor

medial
cord

medial root of the

median nerve

C8, T1

fibres to the median

nerve

portions of hand not

served by ulnar or
radial

medial
cord

medial cutaneous
nerve of the arm

C8, T1 -

front and medial skin

of the arm

medial
cord

medial
cord

medial cutaneous
C8, T1 nerve of the forearm

ulnar nerve

medial skin of the

forearm

the skin of the medial

flexor carpi ulnaris, the side of the hand and
medial 2 bellies of flexor medial one and a half
C8, T1 digitorum profundus,
fingers on the palmar
most of the small
side and medial two
muscles of the hand
and a half fingers on
the dorsal side

[edit] Additional images

Brachial plexus with areas of roots, trunks, divisions and cords marked.

Mind map showing branches of Brachial plexus

Superficial dissection of the
The axillary
right side of the neck,
artery and its
showing the carotid and
branches.
subclavian arteries.
The right sympathetic chain
and its connections with the
thoracic, abdominal, and
pelvic plexuses.

[edit] See also

Side of neck,
showing chief
surface
markings.

Diagram of segmental
Cutaneous
distribution of the
nerves of right
cutaneous nerves of the
upper extremity.
right upper extremity.

Brachial plexus lesion

Anesthesia of the brachial plexus
Brachial plexus injury

[edit] References
1. ^ Scrub Notes: Pope's Blessing Vs. Claw Hand
2. ^ Mnemonic at medicalmnemonics.com 18 2741

[edit] External links

lesson3brachialplexus at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown

University)
Tutorial at Newcastle University
Blog about Brachial Plexus Injury

[show]
vde

Nerves: spinal nerves

[show]
vde

Nerves of upper limbs (primarily): the brachial plexus (C5-T1)

lateral pectoral
lateral cord

musculocutaneous (lateral cutaneous of forearm)

median/lateral root: anterior interosseous palmar recurrent
common palmar digital (proper palmar digital)

medial cordmedial pectoral

cutaneous: medial cutaneous of forearm medial cutaneous of arm
ulnar: muscular palmar dorsal (dorsal digital nerves) superficial
(common palmar digital, proper palmar digital) deep

median/medial root: see above

subscapular (upper, lower) thoracodorsal
axillary (superior lateral cutaneous of arm)
posterior cord
radial: muscular cutaneous (posterior of arm, inferior lateral of arm,
posterior of forearm) superficial (dorsal digital nerves) deep
(posterior interosseous)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachial_plexus"
Categories: Nerves of the upper limb
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This page was last modified on 23 May 2009, at 10:02 (UTC).

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