Brachial Plexus

By Dr. M. Tracy-Bee

Why do we learn about the brachial

plexus
Its one of the most important structures
giving nervous supply to most of the
structures in the upper limb
You can read about it in your notes, but let
me give you some advice in how to learn
it, understand it, and solidify it into your
brain
Have a strong understanding of the
anatomy of the brachial plexus will serve
you well over your career and life

 As we learn about the plexus, well refer

back to this diagram, with the branches.
This is the one that you should learn well.
The plexus on the previous page in your
notes is helpful when starting and learning
about the base structure

whoa! Thats a lot to learn

Yes, it seems overwhelming to start, but if
you study and learn it in a simple way, it
will back this seem less complex.
Lets try

Here is an easy way to draw it,

draw 3 straight lines

Now add two small lines

Next, label the rami

C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

This forms the 3 trunks, lets write

them in
C5

C6

Upper trunk

Middle trunk
C7

C8
Lower trunk
T1

Now, draw out the posterior

divisions coming together to form
the posterior cord
C5

C6

Posterior cord
C7

C8

T1

Now, draw out the anterior division

heading up to the upper trunk
C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

Lets draw out both the:

anterior divisions (in purple) and
posterior division (in blue)
C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

See how the anterior divisions of

the upper trunk and middle trunk
make up the lateral cord
C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

lateral cord

See how the anterior divisions of

the lower trunk makes up the
medial cord
C5

C6

C7
medial cord
C8

T1

See how the posterior divisions all

come together to make up the
posterior cord
C5

C6

Posterior cord
C7

C8

T1

What happens next

The medial and lateral cord
combine to form
C5

C6
Median nerve
C7

C8

T1

Remember that its the

Median nerve
not the mediaL nerve

What happens next

The medial and lateral cord
combine to form
C5

C6
Median nerve
C7

C8

T1

This is our M that we see

in the lab

Lets look at this on your diagram

Learning the plexus
To help memorize the brachial plexus, well find the M
starting at the nerve that pierces the coracobrachialis
muscle.
Lets say it all together
Musculocutaneous nerve
Lateral cord
Lateral root
Median nerve
Medial root
Medial cord
Ulnar nerve
The colors on the diagram
correspond to the ones on
the list above

 Dont forget that posterior to this is the

POSTERIOR CORD.
Its biggest branch is the RADIAL NERVE

Lets go back to your drawing, now we need

to add on 16 the branches:
First draw in this one, its the long thoracic
C5
nerve coming off of C5,6,7.
C6

C7

C8

T1

This is our M that we see

in the lab

Draw in one line above and below the upper

trunk
C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

This is our M that we see

in the lab

Now draw one line directed upward on the

top 2 cords
C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

And draw three lines directed downward on

the bottom 2 cords
C5

C6

C7

C8

T1

Thats a quick and easy way to

draw the plexus. I encourage
you to draw it out daily until you
have it memorized in your head.
Also read through the notes and
go through the review.