Anatomical Studies of the Upper and Lower Subscapular Nerves / 체질인류학회지

This study aimed to determine the number of branches of the upper and lower subscapular nerves and to classify the spinal nerve compositions of each branch. Twenty sides of the brachial plexus extracted from Korean adult cadavers were used in this study. The upper subscapular nerve was composed of three branches in 16 sides (80.0%), composed of four branches in 4 sides (20.0%). The lower subscapular nerve arose from posterior cord with one branch, innervating the subscapularis and the teres major muscles. In case of the upper subscapular nerve, the first branch was comprised of C5 in 40.0%, C5 and C6 in 60.0%, the second branch was composed of C5 in 15.0%, C5 and C6 in 85.0%, the third branch was arisen from C5 and C6 in 75.0%, C6 in 25.0% and the forth branch appeared in four sided was derived from C6. The nerve branch innervating the subscapularis muscle was composed of C6 in 55.0%, C5 and C6 in 40.0%, C6 and C7 in 5.0%. The nerve branch innervating the teres major muscle was composed of C6 and C7 in 65.0%, C5, C6 and C7 in 25.0%, and C6 in 10.0%. The injury was often due to an accidental damage or lesion of the subscapular nerve, these anatomical results may be helpful to predict the involving area of the lesion.

Frequency and Quantity of the C7 Contribution to the Ulnar Nerve / 체질인류학회지

Many anatomists and clinicians who investigate the peripheral nerve concern about the composition of the spinal roots of each terminal nerve of the brachial plexus. From this viewpoint, the spinal root composition of the ulnar nerve is still unclear. Several anatomy textbooks describe that the ulnar nerve is composed of the ventral rami of the C8, T1 and often C7. There is no literature regarding the frequency and contribution quantity of C7 to the ulnar nerve. The purpose of present study was to determine frequency and contribution quantity of the C7 to the ulnar nerve. Fifty cadavers of brachial plexus were obtained from cadavers of Korean adults. The brachial plexus containing the ulnar nerve were extracted from the axilla and the extracted samples were immersed in Guanidine-HCl (0.2 M) for 2 weeks to soften the connective tissue around the nerve bundles. C7 was contributed to the ulnar nerve in all sides (100%). The numbers of the myelinated axons of C7 participating to the ulnar nerve was 1,452+/-429 (mean+/-S.D.). Thus the C7 can be considered as always participating component of the ulnar nerve, not often participation, although numbers of the myelinated axons of C7 was lesser than those of the C8, but similar to those of the T1. The results of the study provide a reference for accurate diagnosis and treatment regarding ulnar nerve injury due to various accidents.

Anatomic Confirmation of the Motor Fibers in the Cervical Nerves Innervating to the Trapezius Muscle / 체질인류학회지

This study aimed to confirm the presence of motor fibers in the cervical nerves distributing to the trapezius muscle. Thirteen cases were examined. Motor fibers were present in C3 in 7 of 9 cases (77.8%) and were absent in 2 of 9 cases (22.3%); the other 4 cases were damaged during dissection. C4 exhibited motor fibers in 9 of 10 cases (90.0%), whereas motor fibers were absent in 1 of 10 cases (10.0%); and 3 cases were damaged. The motor fibers in C3 were of medium size (57.1%; 4/7 cases), whereas those in C4 were large (44.4%; 4/9 cases). The average number of motor fibers in C3 and C4 were 114+/-112 and 219+/-167, respectively. These results show that C4 is more important in terms of the frequency and size of the cervical motor fibers distributing to the trapezius muscle.

Anatomic Confirmation of the Motor Fibers in the Cervical Nerves Innervating to the Trapezius Muscle / 체질인류학회지

This study aimed to confirm the presence of motor fibers in the cervical nerves distributing to the trapezius muscle. Thirteen cases were examined. Motor fibers were present in C3 in 7 of 9 cases (77.8%) and were absent in 2 of 9 cases (22.3%); the other 4 cases were damaged during dissection. C4 exhibited motor fibers in 9 of 10 cases (90.0%), whereas motor fibers were absent in 1 of 10 cases (10.0%); and 3 cases were damaged. The motor fibers in C3 were of medium size (57.1%; 4/7 cases), whereas those in C4 were large (44.4%; 4/9 cases). The average number of motor fibers in C3 and C4 were 114+/-112 and 219+/-167, respectively. These results show that C4 is more important in terms of the frequency and size of the cervical motor fibers distributing to the trapezius muscle.

Spinal Nerve Compositions of the Terminal Branches of the Lumbosacral Plexus / 체질인류학회지

The purpose of this study was to classify the spinal nerve compositions of the terminal branches of the lumbosacral plexus, providing data of their participating quantities. Twenty-five sides of the lumbosacral plexus extracted from Korean adult cadavers were used in this study. The iliohypogastric nerve was mostly arisen from L1 (88.2%, thickness L1 0.7 mm). The ilioinguinal nerve was arisen from only L1 (100%, thickness L1 0.6 mm). The genitofemoral nerve was commonly arisen from L1 and L2 (62.5%, thickness L1 0.6 mm, L2 0.7 mm). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was classified into 4 types, and the most common type was that L2 and L3 composed this nerve (56.0%, thickness L2 0.8 mm, L3 0.4 mm). The femoral nerve was classified into 2 types, and it was usually composed of L2, L3 and L4 (88.0%, thickness L2 1.4 mm, L3 2.7 mm, L4 2.3 mm). The obturator nerve was arisen from L2, L3 and L4 in all cases (100%, thickness L2 0.5 mm, L3 1.3 mm, L4 1.1 mm). The common fibular component of sciatic nerve was mostly arisen from L4, L5, S1 and S2 (84.0%, thickness L4 0.9 mm, L5 2.0 mm, S1 2.1 mm, S2 1.2 mm). The tibial component of sciatic nerve was mainly arisen from L4, L5, S1 and S2 (96.0%, thickness L4 0.9 mm, L5 1.9 mm, S1 2.2 mm, S2 1.9 mm). The superior gluteal nerve was commonly derived from L4, L5 and S1 (56.0%, thickness L4 0.7 mm, L5 1.1 mm, S1 0.9 mm). The inferior gluteal nerve was comprised of L5, S1 and S2 in several cases (54.2%, thickness L5 0.9 mm, S1 1.3 mm, S2 0.8 mm). The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve was composed of S1 and S2 in higher freqeuncy (40.0%, thickness S1 0.9 mm, S2 1.0 mm, S3 0.8 mm). The perforating cutaneous nerve was arisen from S2 and S3 in higher frequency (56.0%, thickness S1 0.7 mm, S2 0.9 mm, S3 1.1 mm). The pudendal nerve was derived from S3 in many cases (52.9%, thickness S3 1.5 mm). These anatomical results may be helpful to predict the spinal nerve root lesions of the lumbosacral plexus.

Median Nerve Branch Innervating the Brachialis Muscle: A Case Report / 체질인류학회지

We observed a slender nerve branch of the lateral root of the median nerve innervating the brachialis muscle, which is normally innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve, at the left arm of a Korean male (age, 74 years). The present nerve branch was accompanied with the communicating branch between the median and musculocutaneous nerves and supplied to the medial inferior portion of the brachialis muscle. The spinal root origins of this branch were C5 and C6. The nerve fiber number of the nerve branch innervating the brachialis muscle was 328. This variation may be very rare case and was different from previous observation.

Arterial Variation in Upper Limb: Case Report / 체질인류학회지

The arterial variations of the upper limb are frequently encountered in the human body. However, the appearance of multiple variations in one limb is uncommon. The present arterial variations were found in the right upper limb of 86 years-old female cadaver during a routine dissection. The variations of the arterial patterns are as follows: 1. Two thyrocervical trunks from subclavian artery and the internal thoracic artery is rising from lateral branch of thyrocervical trunks. 2. Thoracoacromial artery was divided two branches and the lateral thoracic artery arises from the small of two branches. 3. The distance of bifurcation of the brachial artery is 14.9 mm from the inferior border of teres major muscle. Medial branch of the brachial artery passes along the median nerve and becomes radial artery. Lateral branch of the brachial artery passes along the median nerve and becomes ulnar artery. 4. Bifurcation of radial artery is occurred at the distance of 46.9 mm from styloid process of radius. Deep palmar branch of radial artery is bifurcated on dorsum of hand. Branches for supplying first and second fingers arise from superficial palmar arch. The arterial variations of the upper limb could be caused a several bleeding in intravenous injection or surgeries and a wrong diagnosis. The knowledge of the arterial variation of the upper limb should be decreased to raise clinical problems.