Exploring the Anatomical Variations of the Musculocutaneous Nerve: Insights from Cadaveric Dissections

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The musculocutaneous (MC) nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus. It supplies the biceps, brachialis and coracobrachialis muscles. Variations in the origin, course, branching pattern, termination, and communications of the musculocutaneous nerve are important for surgeons, anaesthetists, and other clinicians involved in diagnostic clinical neurophysiology. This cadaveric study was conducted to study the anatomical variations of the MC nerve. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, from August 2015 to November 2015. Dissections were carried out on 50 upper limbs of 25 cadavers to record anatomical variations of the MC nerve. RESULTS: MC nerve was present in 46 (92%) upper limbs. Of the 46, one (2%) did not pierce the coracobrachialis muscle. Communications were seen between the MC and median nerve in six (13%) specimens, of which one (17%) was proximal, and five (83%) were distal to the point of entry of the MC into the coracobrachialis and in four (9%) upper limbs most of nerve fibres of the MC nerve rejoins the median nerve. CONCLUSION: Significant anatomical variations of the musculocutaneous nerve were observed in our study. The high frequency of these variations highlights the complexity and irregularity of this anatomical structure, particularly in relation to surgical approaches.