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Questions and Answers
What is the brachial plexus?
A network of nerves formed by the ventral rami of C5-T1 that innervates the upper limbs.
Which cervical roots contribute to the brachial plexus?
The brachial plexus consists of 8 roots.
False
Erb’s Palsy occurs due to upper brachial plexus injury at _____ and _____
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Which symptoms are associated with Erb’s Palsy?
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Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) can cause _____ in the fingers.
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Klumpke’s Palsy occurs with upper brachial plexus injury.
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What condition is known to cause medial winging of the scapula?
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What are the four important branches of the brachial plexus mentioned?
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Which of the following can cause thoracic outlet syndrome?
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Study Notes
Brachial Plexus Overview
- Network of nerves in the neck and axilla, formed by the ventral rami of cervical roots C5-T1.
- Primary function is to innervate upper limbs.
Anatomy of the Brachial Plexus
- Roots: C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
- Trunks: Superior (C5-C6), Middle (C7), Inferior (C8-T1)
- Divisions: Anterior and Posterior
- Cords: Medial, Lateral, and Posterior
- Major Nerves: Axillary, Radial, Median, Ulnar, Musculocutaneous
Root Branches
- Dorsal scapular nerve provides motor function to the rhomboids.
- Long thoracic nerve innervates serratus anterior muscle, with dysfunction causing medial winging of scapula.
- Medial and lateral pectoral nerves supply pectoralis minor and major.
- Thoracodorsal nerve innervates teres major.
Plexopathies
- Major injuries can occur due to trauma, leading to conditions like Erb’s Palsy (C5-C6) and Klumpke’s Palsy (C8-T1).
- Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy include bird winging of scapula, forward rotated shoulder, and waiter-tip wrist deformity.
- Klumpke’s Palsy presents with a claw-like hand, supinated forearm, and hyperextended wrist and MCP joints.
Injury Types
- Injuries can be categorized as avulsion (complete cut) or stretching, with stretching injuries often resolving in weeks.
- Avulsions are usually irreversible, requiring surgical intervention and physiotherapy.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
- A condition characterized by pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the thoracic outlet, leading to shoulder and neck pain, and tingling in fingers.
- Etiology includes trauma, pregnancy, cervical ribs, or unknown factors.
- Diagnosis involves clinical assessments, laboratory investigations, nerve conduction studies, and imaging techniques such as X-ray and MRI.
Differential Diagnosis
- Consider cervical spine spondylosis or disc herniation, frozen shoulder, impingement syndrome, fibromyalgia, motor neuron disease, and stroke.
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Description
This quiz covers the anatomy of the brachial plexus, including its definitions, branches, and important clinical applications. It also delves into the cervical roots and their relationships. Perfect for second-year medical students to test their knowledge!
