1. THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS

2. • There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves that exit
the spinal cord supplying innervation to the
muscles and structures of the body.

3. 3
Spinal Nerves
8 pairs of cervical nerves from
C1 to C8
12 pairs of thoracic nerves
from T1-T12)
5 pairs of lumbar nerves from
L1 to L5
5 pairs of sacral nerves from
S1 to S5
1 pair of coccygeal nerves
located at C zero (Co)

4. • The spinal nerves are divided into 4 major
nerve plexuses.
• A nerve plexus is nothing more than a system
or network of connected nerve fibers that link
spinal nerves with specific areas of the body.

5. 4 MAJOR NERVE PLEXUSES
1. Cervical plexus
2. Brachial plexus
3. Lumbar plexus
4. Sacral plexus
*The nerve plexus that we are going to
concentrate on is the Brachial Plexus.

6. BRACHIAL PLEXUS
• The brachial plexus consists of spinal nerves
C5 to T1 (fifth cervical nerve to the first
thoracic nerve)
• The brachial plexus is located under the arm in
the axillary region of the body.
• The brachial plexus innervates muscles of the
pectoral girdle and the upper extremity.

7. ROOTS, TRUNKS, DIVISIONS, CORDS,
BRANCHES
The Brachial Plexus is divided into Roots, Trunks,
Divisions, Cords, and Branches.
• There are 5 roots from C5 to T1
• There are 3 trunks (superior, middle, and
inferior)
• There are 2 divisions (anterior and posterior)
• There are 5 branches (musculocutaneous n.,
axillary n., radial n., median n., and ulnar n.)

8. BRACHIAL PLEXUS

9. 5 BRANCHES OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Nerves innervate skeletal muscles of the pectoral girdle and the upper
extremity
• Musculocutaneous n.= innervates flexor muscles of the brachium (biceps brachii,
brachialis, coracobrachialis muscles)
• Axillary n.= innervates deltoid and teres minor muscles
• Radial n.= innervates extensor muscles of the brachium and antebrachium (triceps
brachii, anconeus, extensor carpi radialis, extensor carpi ilnaris, and brachioradialis
muscles)
• Median n.= innervates flexor muscles of the antebrachium (flexor carpi radialis and
Palmaris longus) pronator quadrates, pronator teres and digital flexors of the hand
• Ulnar n.= innervates flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum profundus, adductor pollicis,
and small digital muscles of the hand

10. 5 BRANCHES OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS
cont’d

11. IMAGE REFERENCES
• All images from (Schneider, Hankin, Morse,
Bennett-Clarke, n.d.)
• Schneider, R., Hankin, M., Morse, D., &
Bennett-Clarke, C. (n.d.). Anatomy &
physiology Revealed (2.0). Retrieved from
http://anatomy. mcgraw-hill.com/apr.html
• www.commons.wikimedia.org