Branches of the Brachial Plexus and their Distribution - Rish Academy

Branches of the Brachial Plexus and their Distribution

Roots
- Dorsal scapular nerve (C5)
  - Rhomboid minor
  - Rhomboid major
  - Levator scapulae muscles
- Long thoracic nerve (C5, 6, 7)
  - Serratus anterior muscle
Upper Trunk
- Suprascapular nerve (C5, 6)
  - Supraspinatus
  - Infraspinatus muscles
- Nerve to subclavius (C5, 6)
  - Subclavius

Lateral Cord
- Lateral pectoral nerve (C5, 6, 7)
  - Pectoralis major muscle
- Musculocutaneous nerve (C5, 6, 7)
  - Coracobrachialis,
  - Biceps brachii,
  - Brachialis muscles;
  - Supplies skin along lateral border of forearm when it becomes the lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm
- Lateral root of median nerve (C5, 6, 7)
  - See medial root of median nerve

Posterior Cord
- Upper subscapular nerve (C5, 6)
  - Subscapularis muscle
- Thoracodorsal nerve (C6, 7, 8)
  - Latissimus dorsi muscle
- Lower subscapular nerve (C5, 6)
  - Subscapularis
  - Teres major muscles
- Axillary nerve (C5, 6)
  - Deltoid and
  - Teres minor muscles;
  - Upper lateral cutaneous nerve of arm supplies skin over lower half of deltoid muscle
- Radial nerve (C5, 6, 7, 8; T1)
  - Triceps,
  - Anconeus,
  - Part of brachialis,
  - Extensor carpi radialis longus;
  - via deep radial nerve branch supplies
    - Extensor muscles of forearm: supinator, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor digitorum, extensor digiti minimi, extensor indicis, abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis;
    - skin
    - Lower lateral cutaneous nerve of arm
    - Posterior cutaneous nerve of arm
    - Posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm
    - Skin on lateral side of dorsum of hand and
    - Dorsal surface of lateral three and a half fingers
    - Articular branches to elbow, wrist, and hand

Medial Cord
- Medial pectoral nerve (C8; T1)
  - Pectoralis major and minor muscles
- Medial cutaneous nerve of arm joined by intercostal brachial nerve from second intercostal nerve (C8; T1, 2)
  - Skin of medial side of arm
- Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm (C8; T1)
  - Skin of medial side of forearm
- Ulnar nerve (C8; T1)
  - Flexor carpi ulnaris
  - Medial half of flexor digitorum profundus
  - Flexor digiti minimi
  - Opponens digiti minimi
  - Abductor digiti minimi
  - Adductor pollicis
  - Third and fourth lumbricals
  - Interossei, palmaris brevis
  - Skin of medial half of dorsum of hand and palm
  - Skin of palmar and dorsal surfaces of medial one and a half fingers

- Medial root of median nerve (with lateral root) forms median nerve (C5, 6, 7, 8; T1)
  - Pronator teres
  - Flexor carpi radialis
  - Palmaris longus
  - Flexor digitorum superficialis
  - Abductor pollicis brevis
  - Flexor pollicis brevis
  - Opponens pollicis
  - First two lumbricals (by way of anterior interosseous branch)
  - Flexor pollicis longus
  - Flexor digitorum profundus (lateral half)
  - Pronator quadratus
  - Palmar cutaneous branch to lateral half of palm and digital branches to palmar surface of lateral three and a half fingers
  - Articular branches to elbow, wrist, and carpal joints

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