1

Peripheral nerve of the upper limb

PROBLEM BASED LEARNING (PBL)

PREPARED BY: MUHAMMAD ARIFF B. MAHDZUB

BACHELOR MEDICINE AND SURGERY (MBBS)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SHAHPUTRA, KUANTAN

BRACHIAL PLEXUS

• Networking of the spinal nerves, formed by ventral of cervical spinal nerves and thoracic spinal nerves

• Brachial plexus is responsible for sensory and motor innervation of the entire upper limb

5 main nerves arise from brachial plexus

1. Axillary nerve

2. Musculocutaneous nerve

3. Radial nerve

4. Median nerve

5. Ulnar nerve

AXILLARY NERVE

• Arise from the posterior cord of brachial plexus at the level of axilla

• Lies posterior to the axillary artery and anterior to the subscapularis muscle

• Then axillary nerve will divide into anterior branch (upper branch) and posterior branch (lower branch)

Median nerve

• Nerve that passes down the full length of the arm into the hand

• Median nerve is next to the brachial artery

• Median nerve is most often injured with a wound to the axilla

• Responsible for controlling the forearm and muscles

Musculocutaneous nerve

Is a nerve that formed by splitting of the brachial

plexus

Opposite to the lower border of pectoralis minor

Arise from root C5, C6, and C7

Musculocutaneous nerve

Radial nerve

• Arise from the posterior cord of brachial plexus

• The radial nerve enter the arm behind the axillary artery and then travel posteriorly on the medial side of the arm

• Run down underside of the arm which also control the movement of triceps and also for extending the wrist and fingers.

ULNAR NERVE

• Arise from the medial cord of the brachial plexus

• Runs near the ulna bone

• Damage to the ulnar nerve may due to long term pressure on the elbow. For example claw hand deformities.

Ulnar nerve