A variation in the branching pattern between the musculocutaneous and median nerves in the arm

Author(s): Jan HT Smit*

This is a cadaveric case study report of a 47-year-old male who died of Tuberculosis in the Western Cape area of South Africa. In the right axilla a variation in the branching pattern between the median- and musculocutaneous nerves was observed. The innervation to the coracobrachialis muscle came directly from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus. The formation of the musculocutaneous-, median- and ulnar nerves were normal. However, 4.0 cm below this site, the median- and musculocutaneous nerves re-joined into a single nerve. 3.5 cm below the reunion, the combined nerve gave a branch to the biceps brachii muscle. 1 cm below the biceps branch, another branch was given off to the brachialis muscle and then continued into the forearm as the lateral cutaneous nerve. The remaining section of the combined nerve continued with normal distribution, as the median nerve.

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