Analysis of the Morphological Variations between Musculocutaneous Nerve and Median Nerve-A cadaveric study

Musculocutaneous nerve, a branch from the lateral cord of brachial plexus supply the muscles of the front of the arm. Musculocutaneous nerve has frequent variations in arm.

To analyze the morphological variations between musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve in the arm.

56 upper limbs belonging to 28 embalmed cadavers (M: F: 20: 8) donated over last 3 years in the Anatomy Department, SMIMER Medical Collage, Surat were utilised for this study. The dissections of the upper limbs were performed as per Cunningham's manual. The variations and/communications between musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve if any were identified and documented.

Variations were encountered in 12 (21.43%) out of 56 upper limbs of the present study. In 6 upper limbs below the coracobrachialis, musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve showed communicating rami. In 1 upper limb musculocutaneous nerve was giving larger communication to median nerve as third root. In 2 upper limbs medial cord formed the median nerve and fibres from musculocutaneous nerve join the median nerve as lateral root below coracobrachialis. In 1 upper limb musculocutaneous nerve completely fused with median nerve after supplying coracobrachialis. In 2 upper limbs muculocutaneous nerve was absent and median nerves was supplying the flexor muscles of the arm and were associated with the 3rd head of biceps brachii muscle.

The data obtained from the study were in the mid-range of previous studies. Awareness regarding such variations as well as communications is important for surgeons, orthopaedics and anaesthetist that are treating the lesions of shoulder and arm region.