Upper Limb 1 - Station 1: Axilla and Neurovascular Input to Upper Limb

Question 1

What is the axilla?

Answer 1

Pyramidal space below the shoulder joint that provides a passageway for vessels and nerves going to and from the lower limb.

Question 2

What are the contents of the axilla?

Answer 2

Axillary artery

Axillary vein

Cords and branches of brachial plexus

Lymph vessles

Axillary lymph nodes

Question 3

Answer 3

Question 4

What muscles form the anterior wall?

Answer 4

Pectoralis major

Pectoralis minor

Question 5

What muscles form the posterior border of the axilla?

Answer 5

Subscapularis

Teres major

Latissimus dorsi

Question 6

What forms the medial wall of the axilla?

Answer 6

Thoracic wall

Serratus anterior

Question 7

What part of the humerus forms the lateral wall of the axilla?

Answer 7

Intertubercular sulcus

Question 8

What is shown here and what is it a continuation of?

Answer 8

Axillary artery

Continuation of subclavian artery

Question 9

At what anatomical point does the axillary artery begin?

Answer 9

Mid clavicular line

Question 10

What does the axillary artery continue as distally?

Answer 10

Brachial artery

Question 11

Where does the brachial artery bifurcate?

Answer 11

Cubital fossa

Question 12

What does the brachial artery bifurcate into?

Answer 12

Ulnar artery

Radial artery

Question 13

In what clinical condition would compression of the axillary artery be employed?

Answer 13

Bleeding profusely from the upper limb (note - it is the location for tourniqets)

Question 14

What are the nerve roots of the brachial plexus

Answer 14

C5 - T1

Question 15

What nerve roots for the upper trunk?

Answer 15

C5 & C6

Question 16

What is Erb’s point?

Answer 16

The point in the posterior border of the SCM where the 4 branches of the brachial plexus emerge

Question 17

What are the characteristics of Erb’s palsy?

Answer 17

Waiter’s tip appearance

Arm medially rotated with wrist fully flexed

Question 18

What are common causes of Erb’s palsy?

Answer 18

Fall on the shoulder

Birth injury (most common)

Question 19

Which group of nerves are affected by Erb’s Palsy?

Answer 19

Musculocutaneous

Axillary

Radial

Question 20

Therefore what muscles are affected by Erb’s Palsy?

Answer 20

Musculocutaneous = biceps brachii, brachialis and coracobrachialis

Axillary = Deltoid

Radial = brachioradialis

Question 21

Learn brachial plexus from the book

Question 22

What is the name given to injury to the lower trunk of the brachial plexus?

Answer 22

Klumpke’s palsy

Question 23

What muscles are affected by Klumpke’s palsy?

Answer 23

Intrinsic hand muscles

Ulnar flexors of wrist and fingers

Question 24

What are the characteristics of Klumpke’s palsy?

Answer 24

Clawing of the hand

Question 25

What are the five major branches of the brachial plexus?

Answer 25

Musculocutaneous Axillary Median Radial Ulnar

Question 26

What are the cords of the brachial plexus?

Answer 26

Lateral Medial Posterior

Question 27

What are the branches of the lateral cord?

Answer 27

Lateral pectoral Lateral root of median nerve Musculocutaneous

Question 28

What are the branches of the medial cord of the brachial plexus?

Answer 28

Medial pectoral Median nerve Ulnar Medial cutaneous nerve of arm Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm

Question 29

What are the branches of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus?

Answer 29

Thoracodorsal nerve Axillary nerve Radial nerve Upper and lower subscapular nerve

Question 30

What is the order of arterial supply to the upper limb starting at aorta?

Answer 30

Aorta --\> Brachiocephalic --\> Subclavian --\> Axillary --\> Brachial --\> Ulnar and radial

Question 31

What is the venous drainage of the upper limb starting with cephalic and basilic?

Answer 31

Question 32

How is the dorsal venous arch of the hand drained?

Answer 32

The cephalic vein drains it's LATERAL end The basillic vein drains its MEDIAL end

Question 33

What are the nerve roots of the musculocutaneous nerve?

Answer 33

C5-C7

Question 34

What are the nerve roots of the axillary nerve?

Answer 34

C5 & C6

Question 35

What are the nerve roots of the median nerve?

Answer 35

C6 - T1

Question 36

What are the nerve roots of the radial nerve?

Answer 36

C5 - T1

Question 37

What are the nerve roots of the ulnar nerve?

Answer 37

C8 & T1