The Innervation of Brachialis Muscle by Radial Nerve in Gujarat Region - A Human Cadaveric Study

Abstract

Background: Though the supply to the human brachialis muscle by radial nerve has been investigated by many authors in past, but there is no consistency in these reports. The aim of the present study was to record the anatomical variations in radial nerve supply to the brachialis muscle. Materials and Methods:The material of the study consisted of 62 superior extremities obtained from dissection laboratory of department of anatomy, Medical College Baroda (Gujarat). All these extremities belonged to adult cadavers of known sex.Human brachialis muscle was identified with its proximal and distal attachment. The radial nerve branch innervating to brachialis was identified and parameters like presence or absence of radial nerve branch innervating to brachialis; number of branches; its length; site of emergence and its distance from lateral epicondyle and site of entry into brachialis were noted.Result: Brachialis muscle was innervated by a branch from radial nerve in 87.09% of cases. Varying number of radial nerve branches (1 to 3) innervated the brachialis muscle. Most of these branches (91.93%) entered the lower one third of the muscle. The average length of these muscular branches was 9.17mm. The average distance from the site of emergence to the lateral epicondyle of humerus was 6.54 cm. Conclusion:Significant variations in supply of brachialis muscle were recorded. These variations are of clinical importance for surgeons, orthopaedicians and anaesthetists.