Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny: Communication Between the Musculocutaneous Nerve: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT

Neural variations of the brachium constitute important anatomical and clinical entity.Abnormal variations of median nerve, musculocutaneous nerve and their communicating branches have been reported very frequently by the anatomists in the past. The nerves of the extremities are particularly vulnerable to injury because of their long course and superficial distribution. Present report describes a case of a single abnormal communication between median and musculocutaneous nerve encountered in a 55 year old Indian male cadaver during routine undergraduate dissection. Knowledge of such anatomical variations is important while planning surgery in the region of axilla or arm as these nerves are more liable to be injured during surgical procedures as well as may result in unusual entrapment neuropathies. Clinical significance of such type of variation in the light of its developmental origin has been discussed.