Brachial Plexus

Brachial plexus is an important topic in Anatomy. It is also important from the examination point of
view. I will cover it briefly in this upload, but please go back and read from the standard textbook for
greater detail.

 A plexus is a network of branching nerves. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that
innervates the upper limb
 The brachial plexus consists of roots, trunks, divisions and cords
 The anterior primary rami of five roots namely C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1 are involved in the
formation of the brachial plexus
 The plexus consists of three trunks - upper (union of C5 and C6), middle (only C7) and lower
(union of C8 and T1)
 Six divisions - Each trunk further divides into an anterior and posterior division
 Three cords - Lateral (fusion of anterior divisions of upper and middle trunk), medial (arises
from the anterior division of the lower trunk), posterior (fusion of the posterior divisions of
all three trunks).
 The cords continue downwards to become the main nerve trunks of the upper limb
 The roots, trunks and divisions of the brachial plexus lie deep in the posterior triangle of the
neck while the cords are located in the axilla
 Injuries to the upper part of the brachial plexus involving the C5 and C6 roots may occur in
birth injury or in adults following a fall on the shoulder. The resultant condition is termed
Erb-Duchenne palsy in which the position of the hand is similar to a waiter hinting at a tip.
 Injuries to the lower part of the brachial plexus may affect the T1 nerve leading to paralysis
of the small muscles of the hand. The hand assumes a clawed appearance (Klumpke's
paralysis).
 Occasionally the lower trunk of the plexus may be injured by a cervical rib resulting in
paresthesia along the medial border of the arm and wasting of small muscles of the hand

Learn the nerve distribution of the roots, trunks and cords of the brachial plexus. Illustrate your
answer with diagram of the brachial plexus.

Lakshmi Venkataraman
drexampill@gmail.com
exampill.blogspot.com