One of the four primary nerve branches along the spine; services the arms and shoulder area.
A network of nerves consisting of the motor and sensory innervation of the arm: plexus.
A group of nerves at the armpit and base of the neck which lead to the nerves in the arms and hands. Injury to the brachial plexus at birth leads to Erb’s palsy.
Network of nerves arising from the spinal cord in the neck region and supplying the arm, hand, and parts of me shoulder.
Spinal nerve network of the lower cervical and first thoracic nerves.
A network of nerves in the upper part of the chest that controls muscles in the chest, shoulders, and arms. Nerve roots exit the spinal cord in the neck and combine to form three nerve trunks. The nerve trunks travel across the shoulder, giving off branches that are the nerves to the chest and shoulder. The trunks then rearrange into three nerve cords, which then provide branches that form the nerves of the arms.
The brachial plexus is a collection of large nerve trunks that originate from nerve roots in the lower cervical spine (neck) and upper thoracic spine (chest). These nerve trunks branch out to form the musculocutaneous, axillary, median, ulnar, and radial nerves, which play a crucial role in controlling the muscles of the arm and hand, as well as transmitting sensation from these areas. Injuries to the brachial plexus can result in the loss of movement and sensation in the affected arm. Prompt medical attention is necessary to evaluate and manage such injuries effectively.
Severe injuries to the brachial plexus can result in damage to both the upper and lower nerve roots, leading to complete paralysis of the arm. The extent of paralysis may vary, and in some cases, if the stretching of the nerves was not severe enough to cause nerve fiber tears, the paralysis may be temporary. Microsurgery procedures like nerve grafting can be employed to repair torn nerve roots, but if a nerve root has become completely separated from the spinal cord, surgical repair is not likely to be successful. In addition to injuries, compression of the brachial plexus can occur due to the presence of an extra rib known as a cervical rib.