STUDY OF ORIGIN OF BRANCHES OF THE RADIAL NERVE IN THE AXILLA, A CADAVERIC STUDY

Abstract

Background: Radial nerve is the continuation of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus in the axilla. To know the mode of origin of Objectives: branches of the radial nerve in the axilla. Dissection was done on 44 upper li Methods: mbs from embalmed adult cadavers and 6 upper limbs from embalmed dead fetuses in the Department of Anatomy, J J M Medical College, Davangere. Dissection of Radial nerve and its branches in the axilla was carried out according to Cunningham's manual of practical anatomy. Results: The order of origin of the branches of the radial nerve in the axilla was posterior cutaneous nerve of arm(PCNA), nerve to long head of tricep( NLHT) and ulnar collateral nerve (UCN). Two types of common trunks were observed. Common trunk 1 (CT1) dividing to give nerve to long head of tricep(NLHT) and ulnar collateral nerve(UCN) in 2 specimens (4%). Common trunk 2 (CT2) dividing to give nerve to long head of tricep(NLHT), ulnar collateral nerve(UCN) and posterior cutaneous nerve of arm (PCNA) in 1 specimens (2%). The origin of Nerve to long head of triceps (NLHT) was directly from the radial nerve (RN) in 47 specimens (94%) , through common trunk 1 (CT1) in 2 specimens (4%) and through common trunk 2 (CT2) in 1 specimens (2%). The origin of ulnar collateral nerve (UCN) was directly from the radial nerve (RN) in 47 specimens (94%) , through common trunk 1 (CT1) in 2 specimens (4%) and through common trunk 2 (CT2) in 1 specimens (2%). The origin of Posterior cutaneous nerve of arm(PCNA) was directly from the radial nerve (RN) in 49 specimens (98%) and through common trunk 2 (CT2) in 1 specimens (2%). The present Interpretation and Conclusion: study is important for Surgeons, Orthopedicians, and Neurophysicians as it provides the knowledge of mode of origin of branches of radial nerve in the axilla.