Main nerves of the upper limb – Anatomy Atlas

Table of Contents

Overview

Upper limb nerves (anterior view)

All nervous supply to the upper limb comes from the terminal branches of the brachial plexus. From lateral to medial, these are the musculocutaneous nerve, axillary nerve, median nerve, radial nerve and ulnar nerve.

Upper limb nerves (posterior view)

The axillary and radial nerves both branch off from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. The axillary nerve supplies the shoulder region, whilst the radial nerve supplies the posterior arm and forearm. The musculocutaneous nerve arises from the lateral cord and mainly supplies the anterior arm. The median nerve arises from both the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus and supplies the anterolateral forearm and the lateral hand. Finally, the ulnar nerve branches off the medial cord and supplies the anteromedial forearm and the medial hand.

Keypoints

Key points
Main nerves of the upper limb	Musculocutaneous nerve, axillary nerve, radial nerve, median nerve and ulnar nerve
Origin in the brachial plexus	Musculocutaneous nerve: lateral cord Axillary nerve: posterior cord Radial nerve: posterior cord Median nerve: lateral and medial cords Ulnar nerve: medial cord
Region supplied by each nerve	Shoulder: axillary nerve Anterior arm: musculocutaneous nerve Posterior arm and forearm: radial nerve Anterolateral forearm and lateral hand: median nerve Anteromedial forearm and medial hand: ulnar nerve Lateral 3½ fingers: digital branches of median and radial nerve Medial 1½ finger: digital branches of ulnar nerve