Unusual Branching Pattern of the Lateral Cord of the Brachial Plexus Associated with Neurovascular Compression: Case report

Abstract

abstract:The brachial plexus consists of a network of nerves that innervates the upper limbs and its musculature. We report a rare formation of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus observed during the dissection of a 47-year-old male cadaver at the Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India, in 2016. The lateral cord was exceptionally long with twin lateral pectoral nerves and twin lateral roots of the median nerve. The proximal lateral root of the median nerve was thin in comparison to the medial root of the median nerve. The distal lateral root of the median nerve was thicker and followed an unusual course through the coracobrachialis muscle. In the lower third of the arm, the median nerve and the brachial artery-along with its vena comitans-spanned through the brachialis muscle. Surgeons, anaesthesiologists, radiologists and anatomists should be aware of such anatomical variations as they may result in neurovascular compression.

Three unique variations of the neurovascular course of the profunda brachii artery: a case report

“…Median nerve variations are commonly reported in the literature, and thus are not a signi cant nding in most cadavers. Previous reports include a proximal and distal lateral root of the median nerve [3], formation of the median nerve from a single root of the lateral cord [6], the complete absence of the lateral root of the median nerve [2], and the medial root receiving a communicating branch from either the lateral or posterior cords [5]. Other reports have documented the formation of the median nerve receiving contribution from two branches of the lateral cord and one branch of the medial cord [1].…”