A variation of the median nerve at the level of brachial plexus.

Abstract

We report a variation of the median nerve at the level of brachial plexus in a 38 years old male cadaver. The median nerve was formed by the fusion of three branches; two of them coming from the lateral cord, and one from the medial cord. The abnormal root coming from the lateral cord had a very close oblique course over the axillary artery. These kinds of variations are more prone to injury in radical neck dissections and in other surgical operations of the axilla. Secondly, the very close course of the unusual branch with the axillary artery may lessen the blood supply of the upper extremity by compressing the vessel.