Anatomic variability of the radial nerve

Authors

Keywords:

the radial nerve, variant anatomy, fetus, human.

Abstract

Background. An increase in the number of limb injuries has been noted in Ukraine in recent years. Military injuries of the shoulder and forearm areas require individual solutions, taking into account the possible variants of the topography of the structures of the upper limbs, and in particular the radial nerve. Objective – to identify variants of the topography of the radial nerve in human fetuses. Methods. The research was conducted on preparations of the upper limbs of 18 human fetuses of 81.0-230.0 mm parietal-coccygeal length (PCL) using macro microscopic dissection, vascular injection, and morphometry. Results. In most of the examined fetuses, the radial nerve departs from the posterior bundle of the brachial plexus and is formed by the anterior branches of the cervical spinal nerves (CVI-СVII.) In 3 cases, the fibers of the medial bundle of the brachial plexus – anterior branches of the spinal nerves (CVIII-ThI) took part in the formation of the radial nerve. In 2 fetuses – fibers of the lateral bundle of the brachial plexus (anterior CV branch). In 4 studied fetuses, a branch left the trunk of the radial nerve, after its exit from the brachial muscle canal, to the lower parts of the lateral head of the triceps brachii muscle. In 28 observations, the radial nerve is represented by one trunk, and in 8 cases, two trunks of the radial nerve - medial and lateral - were found. Conclusion. The classic formation of the trunk of the radial nerve from the fibers of the posterior bundle of the brachial plexus was found in 86.1% of the examined fetuses. The atypical participation of fibers of the lateral (5.6% of cases) and medial (8.3% of observations) bundles of the brachial plexus in the formation of the radial nerve causes the appearance of anastomoses with the ulnar nerve and the innervation of structures not characteristic of this nerve, for example, the brachial muscle, or skin areas. In 77.8% of fetuses, the radial nerve in the shoulder area is represented by one trunk, the classic division of which into deep and superficial branches is found in 42.9% of cases. In 57.1% of observations, the loose form of the structure of the radial nerve was noted. In 22.2% of cases, two trunks of the radial nerve were found along the upper and middle thirds of the shoulder.

References

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Published

2022-10-15

How to Cite

Koval, . O., & Khmara, . T. . (2022). Anatomic variability of the radial nerve. Морфологія / Morphologia / Morfologìâ, 16(3), 51–55. Retrieved from https://morphology.dma.edu.ua/article/view/281903

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2022)

Section

Статті

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