Long thoracic nerve

Long thoracic nerve
Nerve: Long thoracic nerve
Nerves of the left upper extremity. (Long thoracic labeled vertically at shoulder, to left of artery.)
The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front. (Long thoracic labeled at center, third from top.)
Latin nervus thoracicus longus
Gray's subject #210 933
Innervates serratus anterior muscle
From brachial plexus (C5-C7)

The long thoracic nerve (external respiratory nerve of Bell; posterior thoracic nerve) supplies the Serratus anterior. This nerve characteristically arises by three roots from the fifth, sixth, and seventh cervical nerves (C5-C7) but the root from C7 may be absent. The roots from C5 and C6 pierce the Scalenus medius, while the C7 root passes in front of the muscle.

The nerve descends behind the brachial plexus and the axillary vessels, resting on the outer surface of the Serratus anterior. It extends along the side of the thorax to the lower border of that muscle, supplying filaments to each of its digitations (finger-like projections).

Damage

Due to its long, relatively superficial course, it is susceptible to injury either through direct trauma or stretch. Injury has been reported in almost all sports, typically occurring from a blow to the ribs underneath an outstretched arm. Surgically the long thoracic nerve can also be damaged during surgery for breast cancer, specifically radical mastectomies that involve removal of axillary lymph nodes.

Injuries to the nerve can result from carrying heavy bags over the shoulder for a prolonged time. There are also reports of isolated damage to this nerve as a variant of Parsonage Turner Syndrome, an autoimmune disease.

Symptoms are often minimal – if symptomatic, a posterior shoulder or scapular burning type of pain may be reported.

A lesion of the nerve paralyses the serratus anterior to produce winged scapula, which is most prominent when the arm is lifted forward or when the patient pushes the outstretched arm against a wall. However, even winging may not be evident until the trapezius stretches enough to reveal an injury several weeks later.

Additional images

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • long thoracic nerve palsy — paralysis of the long thoracic nerve with winging of the scapula and inability to raise the arm. Called also long thoracic neuropathy …   Medical dictionary

  • long thoracic neuropathy — long thoracic nerve palsy …   Medical dictionary

  • Thoracic outlet syndrome — Classification and external resources The right brachial plexus, viewed from in front. In thoracic outlet syndrome there is compressio …   Wikipedia

  • Nerve compression syndrome — Trapped nerve redirects here. For other uses, see Trapped nerve (disambiguation). Nerve compression syndrome Classification and external resources ICD 9 355.9 MeSH …   Wikipedia

  • thoracic nerve long — nervus thoracicus longus …   Medical dictionary

  • Nerve to the subclavius — Nerve: Nerve to the subclavius Plan of brachial plexus. (Nerve to subclavius labeled at top center.) …   Wikipedia

  • Nerve — A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory and motor information from one body part to another. See nervous system. * * * A whitish cordlike structure composed of one or more bundles (fascicles) of myelinated …   Medical dictionary

  • Ulnar nerve entrapment — Classification and external resources ICD 10 G56.2 ICD 9 354.2 Ulnar nerve entrapmen …   Wikipedia

  • Median nerve palsy — Classification and external resources Diagram from Gray s anatomy, depicting the peripheral nerves of the upper extremity, amongst others the median nerve. ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

  • Nerve of pterygoid canal — Nerve: Nerve of pterygoid canal Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Vidian nerve labeled at upper right.) Latin n. canalis pterygoidei Gray s …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”