ABSTRACT
Background: The brachial plexus is constituted by the ventral rami of C5-T1 spinal nerves. It forms a network ofterminal nerves that innervate the upper limb. Variations of brachial plexus are common and a better awarenessof variations is very crucial to achieve successful results in its surgical procedures. The aim of present studywas to find the variant patterns of brachial plexus and to discuss their developmental and clinical significance.Materials and Method: 50 upper limbs belonging to 25 formalized and well preserved male cadavers obtainedfrom the Department of Anatomy, constituted the material for the study. These were dissected and roots, trunks,cords and terminal branches of brachial plexus were exposed. The variant patterns were noted and photographed.Results: Out of 50 limbs, 5 limbs showed variations of brachial plexus at different levels.All the variations seenwere unilateral. Out of 5 variant patterns seen, different types of communications between musculocutaneousand median nerve were observed in 4 limbs (8%).Out of 4, in 1 limb (2%) medial cord joined with lateral root ofmedian nerve to form mediano-ulnar nerve which after a distance of 1cm bifurcated into median and ulnarnerve. In one limb (2%), there was no distinction between medial and lateral cord. Instead a single anterior cordwas formed by union of anterior divisions of all the three trunks anterior to axillary artery.Conclusion: The variant patterns of brachial plexus are usually more prone to accidental injuries and entrapmentneuropathies. Knowledge of such variations may provide additional anatomical information for the cliniciansduring diagnosis of unusual clinical symptoms and also for surgeons during surgical exploration of axilla andarm to avoid damage to these nerves.