Introduction

In this lab you will learn about the neurovasculature of the upper extremity. You will learn about the brachial plexus, which eventually branches into all nerves that innervate the upper extremity. You will also learn about the subclavian, axillary, and brachial arteries and their branches that eventually provide the whole upper extremity with blood. You are responsible for the information in this lab guide on the muscles or structures innervated or supplied by these nerves and arteries.

Lab Activities

Activity 1: Nerves of the upper extremity

Explore the brachial plexus. In general, your first step should be looking for the “M” formed by the parts of the medial and lateral cords coming together to form the median nerve. This will help you get your orientation of what is medial and what is lateral. Once you know which is the medial or lateral cord, you can narrow down the branches coming from them. The M sits just anterior to the axillary artery. This also makes it easier to identify the posterior cord sitting posterior to the “M” and the axillary artery.

• Notice where the nerves are running to. If you know the muscles they innervate and see them entering that muscle, you will be able to identify which nerve it is.

• Here are a few tips for specific nerves in the axillary region:
  • Dorsal scapular nerve: This nerve will emerge very early from the brachial plexus, near the neck, and you will be able to see it running posteriorly to the rhomboids and levator scapulae.
  • Suprascapular nerve: This nerve will run posteriorly from the brachial plexus towards the scapula. It runs through the suprascapular notch inferior to a ligament forming a bridge across the notch (called the transverse scapular ligament) to reach the supraspinatus and then through the spine of the scapula to reach the infraspinatus. 
  • Lateral pectoral nerve: This nerve runs from the brachial plexus to the pectoralis major. You can also know that it is the lateral pectoral nerve rather than the medial because it will branch off the lateral cord.
  • Medial pectoral nerve: This nerve is usually the first branch from the medial cord, and it runs through the pectoralis minor, innervating it on its path to the pectoralis major.
  • Medial brachial and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves: These nerves will branch distal to the medial pectoral nerve off of the medial cord. They run to the skin of the medial arm and forearm. 
  • Long thoracic nerve: This nerve runs tight to the thoracic wall, innervating the serratus anterior muscle. This is also visible running with the serratus anterior on the superficial dissection.
  • Thoracodorsal nerve: This nerve can be seen branching off the posterior cord and running to the latissimus dorsi muscle.
  • Upper subscapular and lower subscapular nerves: These nerves branch from the posterior cord, with the upper branching proximal to the thoracodorsal nerve and the lower branching distal to the thoracodorsal nerve, in most cases. They run posteriorly to the subscapularis and teres major (lower only) muscles. 
  • Axillary nerve: This nerve branches from the posterior cord and runs posterolaterally. It travels with the posterior circumflex humeral artery through a space between the surgical neck of the humerus, the long head of the triceps, teres minor, and teres major to reach the deltoid.
  • Radial nerve: This nerve branches from the posterior cord and runs to the posterior side of the arm. It is larger than the axillary nerve.
  • Ulnar nerve: The ulnar is the most medial branch of the brachial plexus, branching from the medial cord. It continues along the medial side of the arm and passes around the medial epicondyle of the humerus on its path to the forearm. This nerve is responsible for our “funny bone.” You can also see it enter the hand and send branches to the skin of the 5^th digit and lateral aspect of the 4^th digit. It also innervates most muscles in the hand, except the thenar eminence muscles and lateral two lumbricals.
  • Median nerve: In the axilla, the median nerve is evident as the middle nerve formed from the “M” of the brachial plexus, as it receives contributions from both the medial and lateral cords. It travels through the anterior arm and forearm to enter the hand and supply the skin of the lateral half of the 4^th digit and digits 1-3, the muscles of the thenar eminence, and lateral two lumbricals. 
  • Musculocutaneous nerve: The musculocutaneous nerve pierces (and supplies) the coracobrachialis muscle in the arm and then runs between the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles. It emerges on the lateral aspect of the arm as the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve.  

• Subclavian artery: This is the primary artery providing the arm with blood.
• Axillary artery: This artery is continuous with the subclavian artery from the lateral border of the first rib to the inferior border of the teres major muscle. There are several branches you should be able to identify off of the axillary artery.
  • Suprascapular artery: You can observe this in the deep dissection running over the transverse scapular ligament of the suprascapular notch and traveling to the supraspinatus. This artery runs posteriorly with the suprascapular nerve to supply the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
  • Superior thoracic artery: This is the only branch off of the first part of the axillary artery. It will run inferiorly to the superior thoracic wall. 
  • Lateral thoracic artery: This artery branches from the second part of the axillary artery and runs with the long thoracic nerve along the lateral thoracic wall to supply the lateral wall and the serratus anterior. Don’t confuse the lateral thoracic artery and long thoracic nerve! 
  • Thoracoacromial trunk: This is a short trunk off of the superior side of the second part of the axillary artery. It branches almost immediately into four parts that supply the acromion, deltoid, pectoral muscles, and clavicle. 
  • Posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries: These arteries branch from the third part of the axillary artery. They wrap around the surgical neck of the humerus and anastomose (join) with each other to provide circulation to this region via multiple routes. They sometimes branch from a common trunk, or they can branch separately from the axillary artery. The posterior circumflex humeral artery runs posteriorly around the humerus with the axillary nerve, while the anterior circumflex humeral artery runs anteriorly around the humerus.
  • Subscapular artery: The subscapular artery is a short branch off the third part of the axillary artery. As it runs inferiorly, it gives off two branches. You can also observe these on the plastinated tissue.
    • Circumflex scapular artery: This runs posteriorly around the lateral scapula.
    • Thoracodorsal artery: This artery runs with the thoracodorsal nerve to the latissimus dorsi muscle.
• Brachial artery: This artery is continuous with the axillary artery at the inferior border of the teres major. It continues through the brachium to supply muscles of the anterior arm.
  • Deep brachial artery: This is the only branch of the brachial artery you are responsible for in this unit. It branches from the brachial artery in the mid-arm region and runs posteriorly. 
• Ulnar and radial arteries: The brachial artery divides into the radial and ulnar arteries in the cubital fossa. They run on the side of the antebrachium (forearm) of the bone with the same name.
• Superficial and deep palmar arches: These are formed from the ulnar and radial arteries.
• Digital arteries: These branch form the superficial and deep palmar arches and travel to the sides of each digit.

Activity 3: veins of the upper extremity

Explore the veins of the upper extremity.

• There are two primary superficial veins that originate in the forearm: The cephalic and the basilic veins. The cephalic vein runs on the lateral aspect of the forearm and arm, while the basilic vein runs on the medial aspect of the forearm and arm.
  • In the cubital fossa, the median cubital vein joins the basilic and cephalic veins. The median cubital vein is a common site for blood draws.
• The radial and ulnar veins drain into the brachial vein, which drains the muscles of the arm and then joins the basilic vein to become the axillary vein. The deep veins of the upper extremity travel with the arteries of the same name.
• The cephalic vein drains into the axillary vein, and then the axillary vein becomes the subclavian vein at the border of the first rib.