The zonal pattern of extrinsic blood supply to the brachial plexus and its clinical significance / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the arterial origin and the artery distribution to the brachial plexus and its clinical significance. Methods 1)To observe the zonal pattern of arteries supplying brachial plexus in three fresh cadavers by means of modified lead-oxide and gelatin infusion and radiologic development. 2)To observe the arterial origin and distribution under microscope in 10 cadavers embalmed which were injected with red latex from the common carotid artery. Results The brachial plexus was supplied by branches of the subclavian-axillary axis (SAA), and these branches anastomose each other, according to their distribution feature, the supplied neural structures were divided into three zones. The first zone including the nerve roots from intervertebral foramina to the trunks and this region of the brachial plexus were supplied by the vertebral artery and the deep cervical artery. The second zone including the divisions and the main region of the cords of the brachial plexus were supplied by direct branches of the subclavian artery or by branches originating from the dorsal scapular artery. The dorsal scapular artery was usually thick and contributed to blood supply of a large region. There were 2.7 (1-5) direct branches of the subcalvian artery on the average which have relatively smaller diameter. The third zone including the distal portion of the cords and the terminal branches of the brachial plexus were supplied by direct branches of the axillary artery. The mean number of these branches was 3.4 (1-6). Conclusion The brachial plexus has plenty of vascular supply which can be divided into three zones. Every vasa nervorum tends to divide into a distal branch and a proximal branch shortly after they enter the brachial plexus. The branches from vasa nervorum communicates without changing their diameter which is called "real connection", and the blood supplied from the three zones can compensate each other, which provide a rich longitudinal blood supply to the brachial plexus. This study provides an anatomical basis for vascularized brachial plexus replacement.