MSK Dissection - How To Identify Components Of Brachial Plexus

Question 1

What is the easiest nerve of the Brachial plexus to identify?

Answer 1

Median nerve

Question 2

How can you find the musculocutaneous nerve?

Answer 2

Locate the large long Median nerve
Follow it back towards the armpit to the point where it bifurcates
This point is where the lateral cord and medial cord come together to form the median nerve
Follow the lateral cord back to where it branches laterally into the musculocutaneous nerve

Question 3

How can you find the Ulnar nerve?

Answer 3

Locate the large long Median nerve
Follow it back towards the armpit to the point where it bifurcates
This point is where the lateral cord and medial cord come together to form the median nerve
Follow medial cord back to the point where it branches off the Ulnar nerve

Question 4

How can you locate Axillary nerve?

Answer 4

Locate the Axillary Artery
Posterior/underneath that is the posterior cord
Follow this cord to the point it bifurcates
The branch that runs radially/laterally first is the Axillary nerve

Question 5

Where does the Axillary nerve run to?

Answer 5

Runs around the surgical neck of the humerus

Question 6

Where does the Radial nerve run to?

Answer 6

Wraps around the middle of the shaft of the humerus
Spirals around passes anteriorly to lateral epicondyle of humerus then posteriorly into forearm

Question 7

How can you locate the radial nerve?

Answer 7

Locate the Axillary Artery
Posterior/underneath that is the posterior cord
Follow this cord to the point it bifurcates
Axillary nerve branches first laterally whereas the radial nerve runs down the arm for longer till it wraps around the shaft of the mid point of the humerus

Question 8

Where does the Ulnar nerve run?

Answer 8

Down the medial (ulnar) side of the arm and passes posterior to the medial epicondyle (where you bang when you bang your funny bone)