ABSTRACT
Background: Median nerve is formed in axilla by medial & lateral roots from medial & lateral cords of brachialplexus respectively. Variations of median nerve are not uncommon. Incidences of variations in lateral root aremore common than that of medial root. This study was undertaken to find out the different ways by which lateralroot contributes in formation of median nerve. These finding will provide anatomical basis for clinical correlationin case of neuropathies & surgeries of upper limb.Materials and Methods: 80 upper limbs were dissected to find out the variations of the lateral root in theformation of median nerve.Result and findings: Median nerve was formed in the axilla: - by one medial root & two lateral roots in 16.25%cases, one lateral root was thin & and the other was thick in 2.5% cases, 2nd lateral root joined the median nervein middle third of arm in 2.5 % cases. In 11.25 % cases median nerve was formed in the middle 1/3rd of arm bymedial & lateral root, 2nd lateral root joined it at lower 1/3rd of arm. In 2.5 % cases two small lateral roots joinedthe medial cord before it branched into ulnar nerve and medial root of median nerve ,a 3rd lateral root joined themedial root to form the median nerve. In 8.75 % median nerve was formed in axilla by one medial & two lateralroots; a 3rd lateral root joined it at lower part of axillaConclusion: Though, formation of median nerve by several lateral roots is considered to be a rare variation, inour study we observed 41.25% variations of different types.