Distribution of Blood Supply and Nerves in the Upper Limb

Question 1

What branch of the aortic arch supplies supplies the right upper limb?

Answer 1

Brachiocephalic artery

Question 2

2 divisions of the brachiocephalic artery

Answer 2

• Right subclavian artery
• Right common carotid artery

Question 3

At what anatomical level does the brachiocephalic artery divide?

Answer 3

Level of sternoclavicular articulation

Question 4

What branch of the aortic arch supplies the left upper limb?

Answer 4

Left subclavian artery

Question 5

Segments of the arterial tree of the upper limb (proximal to distal)

Answer 5

• Subclavian artery
• Axillary artery
• Brachial artery
• Ulnar + radial arteries
• Deep + superficial palmer arches

Question 6

Boundaries the subclavian artery starts and ends at (right and left)

Answer 6

• Right
  > Start = sternoclavicular joint
  > End = lateral border of rib 1
• Left
  > Start = aortic arch
  > End = lateral border of rib 1

Question 7

Boundaries the axillary artery starts and ends at

Answer 7

• Start = lateral border of rib 1
• End = inferior border of teres major

Question 8

Boundaries the brachial artery starts and ends at

Answer 8

• Start = inferior border of teres major
• End = radial tuberosity

Question 9

Boundaries the ulnar + radial arteries start and end at

Answer 9

• Start = radial tuberosity
• End = deep + superficial palmer arches

Question 10

From what artery does the circumflex humeral artery branch?

Answer 10

Axillary artery

Question 11

What does the circumflex humeral artery supply?

Answer 11

• Teres major
• Teres minor
• Deltoid

Question 12

From what artery does profunda brachii branch?

Answer 12

Brachial artery

Question 13

What does profunda brachii supply?

Answer 13

Muscles of the brachium

Question 14

Pulse points of the upper limb

Answer 14

• Axillary pulse
• Brachial pulse (mid-arm + cubital fossa)
• Radial pulse (distal forearm + anatomical snuffbox)
• Ulnar pulse

Question 15

3 systems of venous drainage in the upper limb

Answer 15

• Superficial venous drainage
• Deep venous drainage
• Perforating veins

Question 16

Major superficial veins of the upper limb

Answer 16

• Cephalic vein
• Basilic vein

Question 17

What connects the cephalic and basilic veins?

Answer 17

Median cubital vein

Question 18

What drains the cephalic and basilic veins?

Answer 18

Axillary vein

Question 19

Segments of the deep venous tree of the upper limb (distal to proximal)

Answer 19

• Deep + superficial palmer venous arches
• Ulnar + radial veins
• Brachial vein
• Axillary vein
• Subclavian vein

Question 20

Boundaries the ulnar + radial veins start and end at

Answer 20

• Start = deep + superficial venous palmer arches
• End = radial tuberosity

Question 21

Boundaries the brachial vein starts and ends at

Answer 21

• Start = radial tuberosity
• End = inferior border of teres major

Question 22

Boundaries the axillary vein starts and ends at

Answer 22

• Start = inferior border of teres minor
• End = lateral border of rib 1

Question 23

Boundaries the subclavian vein starts and ends at (right + left)

Answer 23

• Right
  > Start = lateral border of rib 1
  > End = sternoclavicular joint
• Left
  > Start = lateral border of rib 1
  > End = aortic arch

Question 24

What is an axial line?

Answer 24

Boundary between dermatomes from non-adjacent spinal root levels

Question 25

What marks the axial lines in the upper limb?

Answer 25

- Cephalic vein - Basilic vein

Question 26

What 2 systems is lymphatic drainage of the upper limb through?

Answer 26

- Superficial lymph channels - Deep lymphatic channels

Question 27

Lymph nodes of the upper limb

Answer 27

- Supratrochlear lymph node - Axillary lymph node - Infraclavicular lymph node

Question 28

Levels of the brachial plexus (proximal to distal)

Answer 28

- Roots - Trunks - Divisions - Cords - Branches

Question 29

Roots of the brachial plexus

Answer 29

- C5 - C6 - C7 - C8 - T1

Question 30

Trunks of the brachial plexus (and which roots supply each)

Answer 30

- Superior (C5-6) - Middle (C7) - Inferior (C8-T1)

Question 31

Divisions of each trunk of brachial plexus

Answer 31

- Anterior - Posterior

Question 32

Cords of the brachial plexus (and which divisions of which trunks supply each)

Answer 32

- Lateral (anterior of superior + middle) - Posterior (posterior of superior, middle + inferior) - Medial (anterior of inferior)

Question 33

Branches of the brachial plexus (and cord supply each)

Answer 33

- Musculocutaneous nerve (lateral) - Axillary nerve (posterior) - Median nerve (lateral + medial) - Radial nerve (posterior) - Ulnar nerve (medial)

Question 34

Additional nerves of the roots of the brachial plexus (and where they originate from)

Answer 34

- Dorsal scapular nerve (C5) - Long thoracic nerve (C5-7)

Question 35

Additional nerves of the trunks of the brachial plexus (and where they originate from)

Answer 35

- Nerve to subclavius (superior) - Suprascapular nerve (superior)

Question 36

Additional nerves of the cords of the brachial plexus (and where they originate from)

Answer 36

- Lateral pectoral nerve (lateral) - Upper subscapular nerve (posterior) - Thoracodorsal nerve (posterior) - Lower subscapular nerve (posterior) - Medial pectoral nerve (medial) - Medial brachial cutaneous nerve (medial) - Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (medial)

Question 37

What are sensory nerve territories?

Answer 37

Territorial domains of the skin supplied by each terminal nerve of the brachial plexus (not dermatomes)