· Upper extremity cutaneous innervation is supplied primarily by the Brachial Plexus, emerging from spinal roots C5-T1 – the exceptions being the supraclavicular nerve (C3/4) and the Intercostobrachial nerve (branches from intercostal nerves).
· The brachial plexus is best learned schematically, but the sensory nerves supplying the upper extremity are:
o Axillary – C5/6, sensory innervation to lateral shoulder
o Musculocutaneous – C5-7, sensory innervation to lateral forearm from wrist to elbow
§ Lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve – C5/6 (branch of musculocutaneous nerve), sensory innervation to lateral forearm
o Radial Nerve – C5-T1, sensory innervation to posterior arm in a strip from the triceps down to the dorsum of the hand and dorsal surface of the first 3 fingers
o Median – C6-T1, sensory innervation to palm and the palmar surface of the first 3.5 fingers
o Ulnar – C8/T1, sensory innervation to medial surface of the hand, including pinky and half of ring finger
o Medial brachial cutaneous nerve – C8/T1, branches directly from medial cord and provides sensory innervation to medial upper arm
o Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve – C8/T1, also branches directly from medial cord, provides sensory innervation to medial forearm
Map of sensory innervation; Public Domain image (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatome_(anatomy))
Schematic representation of brachial plexus; Creative Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brachial_plexus_color.svg
Other References
- Upper extremity blocks Accessed September 28, 2021 Link
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