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Documente Profesional
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posterior cord
To
Identifiers
Latin
nervus radialis
MeSH
A08.800.800.720.050.700
TA
A14.2.03.049
FMA
37069
1Structure
o
1.1In arm
1.2In forearm
2Function
o
2.1Cutaneous
2.2Motor
3Clinical significance
o
3.1Injury
4History
5Additional images
6References
7See also
8External links
Structure[edit]
The radial nerve originates as a terminal branch of the posterior cord of the brachial
plexus. It goes through the arm, first in the posterior compartment of the arm, and
later in the anterior compartment of the arm, and continues in the posterior
compartment of the forearm.
In arm[edit]
From the brachial plexus, it travels posteriorly through what is often called
the triangular interval (US), the lower triangular space of the axilla (UK) or the
triceps hiatus (medical terminology).
The superficial branch of the radial nerve descends in the forearm under
the brachioradialis. It crosses brachioradialis to enter posterior of forearm
near the back of the wrist and supply dorsum of hand. It gives nerve supply
to dorsal aspect of thumb, index finger,middle finger and radial side of ring
finger except the nail beds, which are supplied by proper digital branches of
median nerve.
The deep branch of the radial nerve pierces the supinator muscle, winds
around the radius under the cover of supinator to reach posterior of forearm
where it again pierces supinator and after which it is known as the posterior
interosseous nerve of forearm.It pierces the posterior extensor muscles and
comes to lie on posterior interosseous membrane just below extensor pollicis
brevis. It continues to move along with posterior interosseous artery(a deep
branch of common interosseous artery which is a branch of ulnar artery), and
ends as a pseudoganglion below extensor retinaculum.
Function[edit]
The following are branches of the radial nerve (including the superficial branch of
the radial nerve and the deep branch of the radial nerve/posterior interosseous
nerve).
Cutaneous[edit]
Cutaneous innervation of the right upper extremity. Areas innervated by the radial
nerve are colored in pink.
Cutaneous innervation by the radial nerve is provided by the following nerve
branches:
The superficial branch of the radial nerve provides sensory innervation to much of
the back of the hand, including the web of skin between the thumb and index finger.
Motor[edit]
Muscles of the posterior forearm. All the labelled muscles (that is, all the visible
muscles except the ones on the dorsal hand and one at top left) are innervated by
the radial nerve, and represent all muscles innervated by the radial nerve except for
the supinator.
Muscular branches of the radial nerve:
Anconeus
Brachioradialis
Supinator
Posterior interosseous nerve (a continuation of the deep branch after the supinator):
Extensor digitorum
Extensor indicis
The radial nerve (and its deep branch) provides motor innervation to the muscles in
theposterior compartment of the arm and forearm, which are mostly extensors.
Clinical significance[edit]
Injury[edit]
Injury to the radial nerve at different levels causes different syndromes with varying
motor and sensory deficits.
At the axilla
Motor deficit:
Presence of wrist drop, due to inability to extend the hand and fingers.
Sensory deficit: Loss of sensation in lateral arm, posterior forearm, the radial
half of dorsum of hand, and dorsal aspect of radial 3 12digits, excluding their
nail beds.
At mid-arm
Motor deficit:
Presence of wrist drop, due to inability to extend the hand and fingers.
Motor deficit:
Presence of finger drop, and partial wrist drop, since theextensor carpi
radialis longus and brachioradialis muscles are working.
Sensory deficit: Numbness and tingling in radial half of dorsum of hand, and
dorsal aspect of radial 3 12 digits, excluding their nail beds.