Anatomy: Shoulder and Axilla, Brachial Plexus Schema

Anatomy: Shoulder and Axilla, Brachial Plexus Schema




Note the 5 Roots, 3 Trunks, 3 Anterior Divisions  and 3 Posterior Divisions, 3 Cords and 5 Terminal Branches. (Remember To Drink Cold Beer = Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches)

1. 5 Roots of the Brachial Plexus - C5, C6, C7, C8, T1. 
1. Dorsal Scapular Nerve (C5), 
2. Long Thoracic Nerve (C5, C6, C7), 
3. Longus Colli and Scalene Muscles (C5, C6, C7, C8)
2. 3 Trunks of the Brachial Plexus  - Superior, Middle and Inferior
1. Suprascapular Nerve (C5, C6)
2. Nerve To Subclavius (C5, C6)
3. 3 Anterior Divisions  and 3 Posterior Divisions of the Brachial Plexus - No Nerves
4. 3 Cords of the Brachial Plexus and 
1. Lateral Pectoral Nerve (C5, C6, C7)
2. 3 SubScapular - Upper  Subscapular Nerve, Thoracodorsal Nerve (Middle  Subscapular Nerve) , Lower Subscapular Nerve  
5. 5 Terminal Branches of the Brachial Plexus
1. Musculocutaneous (C5,C6, C7)
2. Axillary (C5, C6)
3. Radial Nerve (C5, C6, C7, C8, T1)
4. Median Nerve (C5, C6, C7, C8, T1)
5. Ulnar Nerve (C7, C8, T1). 

The brachial plexus contains the neural connections between the neck and brachial nerves.This speedy method helps simplify understanding the diagram of the brachial plexus. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/15/brachial_plex_how_to.pdf



Draw two headless arrows to the right.
Add a headless arrow to the left.
Add a “W “.
Add an “X”.
Add a “Y”. (Just a branch of the “Y”is added.)
Label C5 to T1.

Label the major branches: MC = musculocutaneous, M = median U = ulnar R = radial AX = auxiliary

More complex diagramming of the brachial plexus includes the four “3s.”Neurosurgeons, neurologists, and physiatrists will use this diagram system.

• The first “3”is the branches to C5, 6, and 7 which form LTN = long thoracic nerve.
• Next, each of the headless arrows has three nerves attached to it. 
• To the top headless arrow, add its “3.” Label these “3”:DSN = dorsoscapularnerve; SS = suprascapularnerve;LP = lateral pectoral nerve.
• Add the “3”to the middle headless arrow. Label the second headless arrow “3”: SS = subscapularTD = thoracodorsalnerve.
• Add the final “3”on the bottom headless arrow. Label the last “3.”MP = medial pectoral,MBC = medial brachial cutaneous, and MABC = medial antebrachialcutaneous.Remember: the brachial cutaneousgoes to the brachium or arm, and the MABC goes to the antebrachiumor forearm. The nerve to the forearm starts distally.
• Label roots, trunks, divisions, cords, terminal branches.
• Radiologists, neurosurgeons and thoracic surgeons need to know the nerve to the subclavius(SUB).
• The complete brachial plexus diagram:

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/15/brachial_plex_how_to.pdf

Anatomy: Shoulder and Axilla, Axilla (Dissection): Anterior view

N417 This is a really busy image

Nerves:

1. Phrenic Nerve - emerges around the Scalene Muscle and inferior to the Omohyoid Muscle and posterior to the Junction of the Internal Jugular Vein and the Subclavian Vein
2. Brachial Plexus - Posterior to the anterior scalene Muscle
3. Superior Branches
1. Dorsal Scapular Artery and Nerve, 
2. Suprascapular Artery and Nerve, 
3. Musculocutaneous Nerve and Anterior Circumflex Humeral Artery - through Coracobrachialis Muscle, 
4. Axillary Nerve and the Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery - Inferior to Coracobrachialis Muscle
4. Inferior Branches
1. Ansa pectoralis - superior and the Median Pectoral Nerve - inferior through Pectoralis Minor Muscle
2. Lateral Pectoral Nerve
3. Lateral Thoracic Artery and the Long Thoracic Nerve - I See why they call it the long thoracic nerve with its branches to Serratus Anterior 
4. Upper Subscapular Nerve
5. Thoracodorsal Artery and Nerve
6. Lower Subscapular Nerve
7. The Merging of the Medial Brachial Cutaneous Nerve and the Intercostobracial nerve
8. Ulnar Nerve - lateral to the Basilic Vein 
5. Bundle Medial to the Humerus - Basilic Vein, Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve, Brachial Artery, Median Nerve and Ulnar Nerve - accompanied by the Brachial veins
6. Bundle Lateral and inferior to the Brachialis Muscle - Profunda Brachii artery, Radial Nerve 
7. Bundle Above the Brachial Muscle - Musculocutanoeos Nerve

Arteries

1. Thoracoacromial Artery - 
1. Inferior - Pectoral Branch
2. Superior - Deltoid Branch, Acromial Branch, Clavicular Branch
2. Suprascapular branch - through the Brachial Plexus
3. Transverse cervical artery anterior to the Brachial plexus and 
4. Dorsal Scapular Nerve with its Artery