Axillary Nerve: Branches, Applied Anatomy

 Axillary Nerve

• Axillary nerve is one of the two large terminal branches of the posterior cord of branchial plexus

Axillary nerve Course:

• From its origin, it passes backwards between subscapularis & teres major through the quadrangular space
• Here it lies in contact with the surgical neck of the humerus, just below the capsule of the shoulder joint

Read And Learn More: BDS Previous Examination Question And Answers

Axillary nerve Branches:

1. Muscular branchsupply deltoid & teres minor muscles
2. Articular branch-supply shoulder joint
3. Cutaneous branchsupply upper lateral cutaneous nerve of arm
4. Branch to the shoulder joint which is divides into
   • Anterior branch
     • Supplies deltoid, pierces muscle & reaches skin
   • Posterior branch
     • Motor nerve to teres minor
     • Cutaneous nerve to the arm
     • Supplies posterior fibres of deltoid

Axillary nerve Applied Anatomy:

• The nerve may be injured during downward dislocation of shoulder joint
• It may be injured during fracture of surgical neck of humerus
• Injury to the nerve paralyses the deltoid muscle causing flattening of shoulder
• Wrongly injected drugs like penicillin may cause paralysis of the nerve

Question 2. Spinal Duramater.
Answer:

• It is a thick, tough fibrous membrane which forms a loose sheath around the spinal cord
• It is continuous with the meningeal layer of the cerebral duramater

Spinal Duramater Extend:

• From the foramen magnum to the lower border of the second sacral vertebrae

Spinal Duramater Significance:

• It gives tubular prolongations to the dorsal & ventral nerve roots & to the spinal nerves as they pass through the intervertebral foramina