Multiple Variations of the Branches of the Brachial Plexus with Bilateral Connections between Ulnar and Radial Nerves

Abstract

SUMMARY:During routine dissection of the upper limbs of a Caucasian male cadaver, multiple variations of the branches of the brachial plexus were observed. On the left side, the musculocutaneous nerve was absent and the muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm were innervated by the median nerve. The median nerve was also formed from three roots viz; two from the lateral and one from the medial cord of the brachial plexus. On the right side, the musculocutaneous nerve contributed a long communicating branch to the median nerve in the distal half of the arm. There were also communicating branches between the ulnar and radial nerves in both limbs at the humeral level. The co-existence of these variations appears to be unique and has not been reported in the literature reviewed. The anatomic and clinical significance of these variations is discussed.

Morphometric Study of Upper End of Tibia in Gujarat Region and Its Clinical Implication in Knee Arthroplasty

“…Many such communications were reported earlier [9][10][11][12][13][14]. A communication between musculo-cutaneous nerve and median nerve may be present [7,15,16]. In the present study, no such communication was noted.…”

Connection between Radial and Ulnar Nerves at Humeral Level And Its Clinical Significance: A Cadaveric Case Report

“…Connection between some terminal branches of brachial plexus are numerous and frequently have been reported by some authors, but from the literature reviewed, we found only two cases of connection between radial and ulnar nerves in the arm that had been reported, one of them was unilateral and the other bilateral (Ozguner et al;Ajayi et al, 2012).…”

Coracobrachialis muscle pierced by two nerves: case report

“…Variations in the nerve supply of the coracobrachialis muscle have also been explained by authors as mentioned earlier in this report. [1,5,[8][9][10][11][12] Appropriate knowledge of these variations other than those quoted in classical text books is important from both medical and surgical aspects.…”

“…The musculocutaneous nerve is found to be absent or sometimes the nerve does not pierce the coracobrachialis muscle. [1,[8][9][10] It may adhere for some distance to the median nerve and pass behind the biceps. Some fibers of the median nerve may run in the musculocutaneous nerve, leaving it to join their proper trunk; less frequently the reverse occurs, and the median nerve sends a branch to the musculocutaneous nerve.…”