Branchial Plexus and Compartments

Question 1

where on the spine does the brachial plexus join together ?

Answer 1

C5 - T1

Question 2

what are the five portions of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 2

root
trunks
divisions
cords
branches

Question 3

what’s an acronym to remember the five portions of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 3

really thirsty drink cold beer

Question 4

what are the roots of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 4

C5 - T1

Question 5

what are the trunks of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 5

upper, middle and lower

Question 6

what are the divisions of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 6

anterior and posterior

Question 7

what are the cords of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 7

lateral, medial and posterior

Question 8

what are the branches of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 8

• axillary
• radial
• musculocutaneous
• median
• ulnar

Question 9

what muscles are innervated by the axillary nerve ?

Answer 9

teres minor and deltoid (C5 - C6)

Question 10

what muscles are innervated by the radial nerve ?

Answer 10

posterior compartments (C5 - T1)

Question 11

what muscles are innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve ?

Answer 11

arm flexors (C5 - C7)

Question 12

what muscles are innervated by the median nerve ?

Answer 12

forearm flexors (C5 - T1)

Question 13

what muscles are innervated by the ulnar nerve ?

Answer 13

forearm flexors (C8 - T1)

Question 14

in the brachial plexus, between extensors and flexors, which face the front/back ?

Answer 14

extensors to the back and flexors to the front

Question 15

which brachial plexus division are extensors ?

Answer 15

radial and axillary

Question 16

which brachial plexus divisions are flexors ?

Answer 16

musculocutaneous, median and ulnar

Question 17

which vertebral bodies combine to form the upper trunk ?

Answer 17

C5 - C6

Question 18

which vertebral bodies combine to form the middle trunk ?

Answer 18

C7 (on its own)

Question 19

which vertebral bodies combine to form the lower trunk ?

Answer 19

C8 - T1

Question 20

what nerve comes off of the upper trunk ?

Answer 20

the supra scapular

Question 21

what nerve comes off of the lateral cord ?

Answer 21

lat. pectoral

Question 22

what nerve comes off of the posterior nerve ?

Answer 22

thoracodorsal, upper and lower subscapular

Question 23

what nerve comes off of the medial cord (anterior division) ?

Answer 23

med. pectoral

Question 24

when C5, C6 and C7 roots all come together, what does that form ?

Answer 24

long thoracic

Question 25

what nerve comes off of the medial cord ?

Answer 25

med cutaneous arm and med cutaneous forearm

Question 26

what branch comes off of the lateral cord ?

Answer 26

musculocutaneous nerve

Question 27

what branch comes off of the posterior cord ?

Answer 27

axillary and radial nerve

Question 28

what branch comes off of the medial branch ?

Answer 28

ulnar nerve

Question 29

what branch comes off of both the lateral and medial branch ?

Answer 29

median nerve

Question 30

where are the extensor compartment nerves anatomically located ?

Answer 30

posterior aspect of the upper limb

Question 31

what two muscles does the axillary innervate ?

Answer 31

deltoids and teres minor

Question 32

why is the radial nerve so important ?

Answer 32

essentially does everything on the extensor side of the upper limb

Question 33

what nerve only innervates muscles in the arm ?

Answer 33

musculocutaneous

Question 34

what two nerves split a lot of the muscles they innervate ?

Answer 34

median and ulnar

Question 35

the coracobrachialis, biceps branchii and brachialis are all innervated by what nerve ?

Answer 35

musculocutaneous

Question 36

what nerves are multi segmental (meaning that information from multiple roots recombined throughout the plexus to form a single nerve)

Answer 36

plexus and peripheral nerves

Question 37

which two nerves are formed from C5 - T1 ?

Answer 37

radial and median

Question 38

what are the two brachial plexus injuries ?

Answer 38

- klumpke paralysis - erb-duchenne palsy

Question 39

which roots does erb-duchenne palsy affect ?

Answer 39

C5 - C6

Question 40

which roots fors klumpke paralysis affect ?

Answer 40

(C8 - T1)

Question 41

what is erb-duchenne palsy ?

Answer 41

excess angle between neck + shoulder

Question 42

what is klumpke paralysis ?

Answer 42

excess angle between arm and body, usually overhead

Question 43

what brachial plexus injury is describes by "excess angle between arm and body, usually overhead"

Answer 43

klumpke paralysis

Question 44

what brachial plexus injury is describes by "excess angle between neck + shoulder"

Answer 44

erb-duchenne palsy

Question 45

what is the outcome of erb-duchenne palsy ?

Answer 45

waiter's tip - musculocutaneous + axillary nerve impaired - paralysis of : deltoid, biceps + brachialis - limb medial rotation + adduction, extended elbow, pronated foreaem

Question 46

what is the outcome of klumke paralysis ?

Answer 46

poor ulnar nerve function - decease arm and hand movement - loss of sensation to medial, distal hand

Question 47

between klumpke paralysis and erb-duchenne palsy, which is more common ?

Answer 47

erb-duchenne palsy is way more common

Question 48

what is the main function of the brachial plexus ?

Answer 48

provides sensory and motor innervation to the upper limb (anything to do with upper limb)

Question 49

how are limb compartments seperated ?

Answer 49

by fibrous sheaths

Question 50

what layers around the outside of the whole shank ?

Answer 50

fascia layer

Question 51

is flexion of the arm towards the front or back ?

Answer 51

front

Question 52

is flexion of the arm towards the front or back ?

Answer 52

back

Question 53

in the upper body are flexors / extensors the anterior or posterior part of the body ?

Answer 53

flexors = anterior extensors = posterior

Question 54

what nerve is going to supply everything on the medial aspect (pinky side) ?

Answer 54

ulnar nerve

Question 55

what muscles does the median nerve innervate ?

Answer 55

- pronator teres - flexor pollicis longus - pronator quadratus - thenar muscles - lumbricals to digits 2, 3 - flexor digitorum profundus - flexor digitorim superficialis - palmaris longus - flexor carpu radialis

Question 56

what muscles does the musculocutaneous nerve innervate ?

Answer 56

- biceps brachii - brachialis - coracbrachialis

Question 57

what muscles does the ulnar nerve innervate ?

Answer 57

- flexor carpi ulnaris - flexor digitorum profundus - palmar interossei - adductor pollicis - dorsal interossei - palmaris brevis - hypothenar muscles - lumbricals to digits 4 and 5

Question 58

what muscles does the radial nerve innervate ?

Answer 58

- triceps brachii (lateral, long and medial head) - supinator - extensor carpi ulnaris - extensor digiti minimi - extensor digitorum - brachioradialis - extensor carpi radialis longus - extensor carpi radialis brevis - posterior interosseous nerve - abductor pollicis longus - extensor pollicis brevis, longus - extensor indicis

Question 59

what is compartment syndrome ?

Answer 59

fibrous sheaths surrounding compartments dont stretch, if damage + swelling occurs pressure can build up

Question 60

what are two common sites of compartment syndrome ?

Answer 60

shank and forearm

Question 61

what are the four compartments in the leg ?

Answer 61

- anterior - lateral - deep - posterior

Question 62

what can cause compartment syndrome ?

Answer 62

chronic overuse

Question 63

what is the 5 step cycle of compartment syndrome ?

Answer 63

pain, tauma/increased blood flow, swelling/bleeding, increased pressure, decreased blood/nerve supply

Question 64

what is fasciotomy ?

Answer 64

term for the surgery that's performed to release the pressure inside of these compartments

Question 65

what is the term used for the surgery that is performed to release the pressure inside of these compartments

Answer 65

fasciotomy

Question 66

what do compartments do ?

Answer 66

define groups of muscles within the limbs

Question 67

how do muscles within a compartment typically act ?

Answer 67

synergistically on a joint

Question 68

how is each compartment supplied ?

Answer 68

each compartment is supplied by it's own neuromuscular bundle (there is a common nerve, artery and vein that supplies that group of muscles)