ABSTRACT
Variations in the formation of the upper trunk of the brachial plexus are relatively rare. Knowledge of its possible variation is useful to orthopedic surgeons dealing with the problems of cervical spine, anesthesiologists performing brachial plexus blocks and general surgeons performing lower neck surgeries. In this report, we present a variation in the formation of the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. The upper trunk was formed by the union of ventral rami of fifth and sixth cervical spinal nerves. The fifth cervical ventral ramus passed ventral to the scalanus anterior muscle, while the sixth cervical ventral ramus passed between the scalanus anterior and medius muscles. The upper trunk was formed at the lateral border of the scalenus anterior muscle.
ABSTRACT
Variations of the vascular pattern of proximal part of the upper arm are very common. Knowledge of anomalies in the origin and course of principal arteries is important for the vascular radiologists and surgeons. Several variations of the axillary artery, brachial artery and theirs branches have been reported. We found a common trunk (about 3cm long) of lateral thoracic and subscapular arteries from the axillary artery and a common trunk (about 4cm long) of posterior circumflex humeral and profunda brachii arteries from brachial artery. The profunda brachii artery ran downwards along with radial nerve and entered the radial groove. The posterior circumflex humeral artery hooked around the aponeurosis of latissimus dorsi muscle and supplied its usual area around the glenohumeral joint.