Skip to main content

Nerve loop around the axillary vessels by the roots of the median nerve a rare variation in a south Indian male cadaver: a case report

Abstract

Introduction

Median nerve is normally formed by the union of medial and lateral root arising from the medial and the lateral cords of the brachial plexus respectively. However, variations in the formation and its relation with the axillary vessels are not uncommon. Therefore, knowledge of the variations in the nerve formation and course is useful for the clinicians during surgery and for differential diagnosis of uncommon clinical conditions.

Case presentation

During the routine dissection in the department of anatomy, Kasturba Medical Collage, Manipal, India, we found unique anatomical variations in the formation and the course of the roots of the median nerve forming the neural loops around the axillary artery and vein.

Conclusion

Here we report the detailed description of these variations along with its clinical, embryological relevance and review of literature.

Introduction

The brachial plexus is formed normally by the fusion of the anterior primary rami of C5-8 and T1 spinal nerves and supplies the muscles of the back and the upper limb. The C5 and C6 roots fuse to form the upper trunk, the C7 continues as the middle trunk and the C8 and T1 join to form the lower trunk. Each trunk further divides into anterior and posterior divisions. The anterior divisions of the upper and middle trunks form the lateral cord, the anterior division of the lower trunk continues as the medial cord and the posterior divisions of all three roots form the posterior cord and supply the upper limb. The median nerve is usually formed by two roots, the lateral (C5, 6, 7) and medial (C8, T1) roots arising from the lateral and medial cords respectively. These roots embrace the third part of the axillary artery, and join together anterior or lateral to the axillary artery to form the median nerve [1]. Due to the complex nature of development of brachial plexus and axillary vessels, the formation, branching pattern of nerves and their relation to axillary vessels may show many anatomical variations [2–4]. The two roots of the median nerve may enclose the axillary vein as well as the axillary artery. The median nerve or its roots may pass behind the axillary artery instead of in front of it [5]. In this present study, we describe a rare and unreported variation in the formation of the median nerve and its relation to axillary vessels.

Case presentation

During the routine dissection (36 cadavers) in the department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, in the right axilla of a 58-year-old South Asian (Indian) male cadaver, the median nerve was formed by the two roots, lateral and medial as normally described. However, the lateral root of the median nerve was arising much earlier than its usual site. The lateral root was arising from the lateral cord, just after the formation of the lateral cord, proximal to pectoralis minor muscle, posterolateral to the axillary artery. Then, fibers of the lateral root (distal part) runs along with the medial cord of the brachial plexus winding round the axillary artery from posterolateral to medial side to join the lateral cord again distal to pectoralis major muscle. Thus, forming a nerve loop around axillary artery in posterolateral to anteromedial direction (Figure 1). While joining the lateral cord, majority of the lateral root fibers were just connected to the lateral cord by connective tissue septum and then leaves the lateral cord (proximal part) to join the medial root of the median nerve. However, few fibers of the lateral root were actually blended with the lateral cord and again directed back to the lateral root of the median nerve (Figure 2). The lateral root of the median nerve was joining the medial root distal to pectoralis minor muscle. The medial root had its normal single origin from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, but it was winding round the axillary vein lateral to the pectoralis minor muscle before joining the lateral root. Thus, another neural loop of the lateral and medial root of the median nerve was formed around the axillary vein (Figure 1). Finally, the median nerve thus formed runs anterior to the third part of the axillary artery. However, the course and the origin of the lateral and medial roots of the median nerve was normal in the left axilla.

Figure 1
figure 1

The Lateral root of the median nerve (Mn) had two parts. The distal part of the lateral root (dLr) was arising from the lateral cord (Lcd) of the brachial plexus medial to pectoralis minor muscle (Pm) and winds round the axillary artery (Aa) before joining the lateral cord again. The proximal part of the lateral root (pLr) was arising from lateral cord lateral to pectoralis minor muscle and joins the medial root (Mr) of median nerve. The medial root of median nerve (Mn) was arising from medial cord (Mcd) and then winds round the axillary vein (Av) before joining the lateral root to form median nerve. Mc- Musculocutaneous nerve.

Figure 2
figure 2

The distal part of the lateral root (dLr) after winding round the axillary artery (Aa), majority of the fibers were just connected to lateral cord (Lcd) of the brachial plexus by connective tissue and then deviates with proximal part of the lateral root (pLr) to form median nerve (Mn). Few fibers of the distal part of the lateral root blend with fibers of the lateral cord and emerge along with proximal part of the lateral root. Mcd-Medial cord of the brachial plexus; Mc- Musculocutaneous nerve. * Few fibers of the distal part of the lateral root.

Discussion

Earlier, Pandey and his group found, an abnormal formation and course of the median nerve in 7% of the cadavers. They found that, the medial root received the communicating branch/branches either from the lateral or posterior cord; both roots of the median nerve were joined on medial side of the axillary artery to form the median nerve. Roots of the median nerve did not join to form the median nerve in the axilla, but, both traveled separately anteromedial to the axillary and brachial arteries [6]. In another study, the median nerve was shown to formed by the fusion of three branches; two from the lateral cord, and one from the medial cord. The abnormal root coming from the lateral cord had very close oblique course over the axillary artery [7]. It has also been shown that, the lateral cord of the brachial plexus after piercing the coracobrachialis and after giving branches to the muscles of the front of the arm, gave one branch as lateral root of the median nerve at the level of the middle of the arm. Later this root joined the medial root to form the median nerve [8]. Goyal and his co-worker found the median nerve to be formed by three roots; the additional root was from the anterior division of the middle trunk [9]. Uzun and his team found median nerve to be formed by four branches, three of them arising from the lateral cord and one from the medial cord [10]. Interestingly, in another study, additional root in the formation of the median nerve was found in 52% of the cases. In 4 cases one of the two lateral roots came from the anterior division of the middle trunk and one from the lateral cord. In 24 cases they found two lateral roots coming from the lateral cord [11]. The lateral and medial roots of the median nerve found to joining in the distal part of the arm rather in the axilla itself [11, 12] and median nerve is also found to fuse with musculocutaneous nerve in the axilla [13].

Many variations in the relationship of the axillary artery with the roots of the median nerve have been reported. The lateral root of the median nerve found to cross the axillary artery anteriorly and meets the medial root such that the median nerve lies medial to the third part of axillary artery [3]. Das and Paul have observed a similar case where there were two lateral roots of the median nerve [14].

The subclavian and the axillary system of arteries are derived from the seventh cervical intersegmental artery [15]. Hence, the artery passes between the lateral and the medial cords, representing the fifth, sixth and seventh cervical nerve on the one side and the eighth cervical and first thoracic nerves on the other side. Further, the artery may also arise from the sixth, the eighth or the ninth intersegmental artery leading to abnormal relations with the brachial plexus [4]. Further, the plexus is in turn may modified by the presence of the abnormally placed artery. The segregation of developing structures within the limb bud has a directive action upon the growing nerve fibers and subsequently grouping into definite bundles. The presence of anomalies may be attributed to random factors influencing the mechanism of formation of the limb muscles and the peripheral nerves during embryonic life [2]. Brachial plexus is a routing system to get nerves with common function into the proper terminal nerves. Therefore, errors in the pattern of distribution in the braches of the brachial plexus may finally be corrected distally in the arm, forearm or in the hand before their target innervations [16].

The knowledge of the variations of the peripheral nervous system is useful in clinical as well as surgical practice as they may be the cause of nerve palsy syndromes, ischemia because of variable relations of nerves with the surrounding muscles and the vessels. The presence of anatomical variations in the peripheral nerves is used to explain unexpected signs and symptoms useful in medical practice. Owing to more reliance on computer imaging in the diagnostic medicine, variations of the brachial plexus are vulnerable to injury during the routine surgical procedures of the axilla [17] and the upper arm, such as nerve block, cannulation of the axillary vessels during cardiopulmonary bypass [18], axillary artery perfusion, while transposing and anastomosing the cephalic vein with axillary vein to treat cephalic arch stenosis [19], internal fixation of humeral fracture, surgical resection of axillary tumors, repair of shoulder dislocation, vessels and nerve repair after trauma, radical mastectomy, lymph node biopsy, lymphodectomy of axilla etc. Anomalous branches and the course of the nerves crossing the axillary artery anteriorly may cause compression syndromes producing ischemia. Further, the knowledge of the possible variations in the brachial plexus seems to be very useful while assessing the same via MRI [20]. Thus, these variations are important to note by the anatomist, clinicians and also by the radiologist.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the concerned authorities for publication of this case report. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.

Abbreviations

Mn:

Median nerve

dLr:

Distal part of the lateral root

pLr:

Proximal part of the lateral root

Lc:

Lateral cord of the brachial plexus

Mr:

Medial root: Pm: Pectoralis minor muscle

Aa:

Axillary artery

Av:

Axillary vein

Mc:

Musculocutaneous nerve

Mcd:

Medial cord of the brachial plexus

*:

Few fibers of the distal part of the lateral root.

References

  1. Standring S: Gray's Anatomy. 2005, Edinburgh: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone, 846-848. 39

    Google Scholar 

  2. Streeter GL: From The development of nervous system: III. Peripheral nervous system. Handbook of human embryology. Edited by: Keibel F, Mall FP. 1912, Philadelphia: JB Lippincott Co, 2: 1-156.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Singhal S, Rao VV, Ravindranath R: Variations in brachial plexus and the relationship of median nerve with the axillary artery: a case report. J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. 2007, 3 (2): 21-10.1186/1749-7221-2-21.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yang HJ, Gil YC, Lee HY: Intersegmental Origin of the Axillary Artery and Accompanying Variation in the Brachial Plexus. Clin Anat. 2009, 22: 586-594. 10.1002/ca.20811.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bergman RA, Thompson SA, Afifi AK, Saadeh FA: Compendium of human anatomic variations. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Baltimore-Munich. 1988

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pandey SK, Shukla VK: Anatomical variations of the cords of brachial plexus and the median nerve. Clin Anat. 2007, 20: 150-156. 10.1002/ca.20365.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sargon MF, Uslu SS, Celik HH, AkÅŸit D: A variation of the median nerve at the level of brachial plexus. Bull Assoc Anat (Nancy). 1995, 79 (246): 25-26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Le Minor JM: A rare variation of the median and musculocutaneous nerves in man. Arch Anat Histol Embryol. 1990, 73: 33-42.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Goyal N, Harjeet , Gupta M: Bilateral variant contribution in the formation of median nerve. Surg Radiol Anat. 2005, 8: 1-4.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Uzun A, Selling LL: A variation in the formation of median nerve and communicating branches between musculocutaneous and median nerve. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2001, 60 (2): 99-101.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Sassoli Fazan VP, Amadeu AS, Caleffi AL, Rodrigues Filho OA: Brachial plexus variation in its formation and main branches. Acta Cir Bras. 2003, 18: 5.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Uysal II, Seker M, Karabulut AK, Buyukmumcu M, Ziylan T: Brachial plexus variations in human fetuses. Neurosurgery. 2003, 676-684. 10.1227/01.NEU.0000079485.24016.70. 3

  13. Salopek D, Dujmovic A, Hadjina J, Topic I: Bilateral arterial and nervous variations in the human upper limb: a case report. Ann Anat. 2007, 189 (3): 290-294. 10.1016/j.aanat.2006.09.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Das S, Paul S: Anomalous branching pattern of lateral cord of brachial plexus. Int J Morpho. 2005, 23: 289-292.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wollard HH: The development of the principal arterial stems in the forelimb of the pig. Contrib. Embryol. 1922, 14: 139.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Tountas CP, Bergman RA: Anatomic variations of the upper extremity. 1993, New York: Churchill Livingstone, 195-203.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Retzl G, Kapral S, Greher M, Mauritz W: Ultrasonographic findings of the axillary part of the brachial plexus. Anesth Analg. 2001, 92 (5): 1271-1275. 10.1097/00000539-200105000-00037.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Zattera G, Totaro P, D'Armini AM, Vigano M: Deltoido-pectoralis approach to axillary vessels for full-flow cardiopulmonary bypass. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2009, 35 (5): 913-914. 10.1016/j.ejcts.2009.01.049.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kian K, Unger SW, Mishler R, Schon D, Lenz O, Asif A: Role of surgical intervention for cephalic arch stenosis in the "fistula first" era. Semin Dial. 2008, 21 (1): 93-96. 10.1111/j.1525-139X.2007.00388.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Van Hoof T, Mabilde C, Leybaert L, Verstraete K, D'Herde K: Technical note: the design of a stereotactic frame for direct MRI-anatomical correlation of the brachial plexus. Surg Radiol Anat. 2005, 27 (6): 548-556. 10.1007/s00276-005-0049-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kumar MR Bhat.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

SG found the variation, KB took photographs and prepared the manuscript and BP- assisted in preparation of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bhat, K.M., Gowda, S. & Potu, B.K. Nerve loop around the axillary vessels by the roots of the median nerve a rare variation in a south Indian male cadaver: a case report. Cases Journal 2, 179 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-2-179

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-2-179

Keywords