Unilateral Variations of Brachial Plexus Involving the Lateral Cord, Musculocutaneous Nerve and Median Nerve: A Case Study with Clinical Implications

Abstract

In the present case report, unilateral variations in the brachial plexus are reported. These variations were noted in a female cadaver, during routine undergraduate dissection in the Department of Anatomy, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India. In the left extremity, the lateral cord pierced the coracobrachialis muscle. Prior to passing through the coracobrachialis, the lateral cord gave off the lateral pectoral nerve and a small direct branch innervating the coracobrachialis muscle. Distally, the musculocutaneous nerve and multiple muscular twigs were given off by the lateral cord. The anterior compartment muscles of the left arm were innervated by the direct branches from the lateral cord of brachial plexus and branches from the musculocutaneous nerve. The lateral cord continued as the lateral root of the median nerve and joined the medial root from the medial cord to form the median nerve at the level of distal attachment of coracobrachialis. Documentation of brachial plexus variations portrays a remarkably significant role in clinical diagnosis as well as surgical practice

Keywords

• coracobrachialis
• injuries
• peripheral nerves
• upper extremity