anatomy as well as clinical significance of brachial plexus

1. Brachial Plexus
PBL Group 4
Horrible 48 Hours

2. What is brachial plexus?
• Network of nerves.
• Arises from the anterior rami of spinal nerves.
• Formed by union of last four cervical and the first thoracic nerve.
• Lies in neck and axilla.
• Divided into root, trunk, division, cord, and branch.
• Gives rise to nerves – innervates the upper limbs

3. Organization of brachial plexus
1. Roots - 5 ventral Rami (C5-T1)
2. Trunks – Upper, Middle ,Lower
3. Divisions – Anterior and Posterior from each trunk
4. Cords – Lateral, Medial, Posterior
5. Branches

6. Supraclavicular branches
1. Dorsal scapular nerve- (C5)rhomboids, levator scapulae
2. Nerve to subclavius- (C5,C6)subclavius
3. Long thoracic nerve- (C5-C7)serratus anterior
4. Suprascapular nerve- C5,C6)supraspinatous,infraspinatous,
glenohumeral joint.

7. Infraclavicular nerve
1. Lateral pectoral nerve- (C5-C7) pectoralis major
2. Musculocutaneous nerve – (C5-C7) Anterior compartment of
arm(biceps brachi, coracobrachialis, brachialis
3. Median nerve- (C5-T1) muscles of anterior forearm compartment
except flexor carpi ulnaris, and ulnar half of flexor digitorum
profundus
4. Ulnar nerve-(C8,T1) flexor carpi ulnaris and ulnar half of flexor
digitorum profundus

8. Contd.
5. Medial pectoral nerve- (C8,T1) pectoralis minor, sternocoastal part
of pectoralis major
6. Medial brachial cutaneous nerve- (C8,T1) skin of medial side of arm
7. Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve- (C8,T1) skin of medial side of
forearm
8. Upper subscapular nerve- (C5,C6) superior portion of subscapularis
muscle

9. Contd.
9. Lower subscapular nerve- (C5,C6) Inferior portion of subscapularis
muscle
10. Thoracodorsal nerve- (C5-C7) latissimus dorsi
11. Axillary nerve- (C5,C6) glenohumeral joint, teres minor and deltoid
muscle
12. Radial nerve- (C5-C8,T1) all muscles of posterior compartment of
arm and forearm.

11. Erb’s Point

12. Erb’s palsy
• Injury at the erb’s point
• Affects the abductor and lateral rotators of the shoulder joint.
• Flexors of elbow and supinators are paralysed.
• Arms hang by side.

13. Klumpke’s palsy
• Damage to C8 and T1
• Leads to ‘complete claw hand’ i.e. extension of metacarpophalangeal
joint and flexion of interphalangeal joint, loss of sensation on medial
side of forearm.

14. References:
Moore’s Clinically oriented anatomy, seventh edition.

15. THANK YOU!