Thoracodorsal nerve
Encyclopedia
The thoracodorsal nerve is a nerve
present in humans and other animals. It is also known as the middle subscapular nerve or the long subscapular nerve. It supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.
It arises from the brachial plexus
. It derives its fibers from the sixth, seventh, and eighth cervical nerves
. It is derived from their ventral rami, in spite of the fact that the latissimus dorsi is found in the back. The thoracodorsal nerve is a branch of the posterior cord
of the brachial plexus
, and is made up of fibres from the posterior divisions of all three trunks of the brachial plexus.
It follows the course of the subscapular artery
, along the posterior wall of the axilla to the Latissimus dorsi, in which it may be traced as far as the lower border of the muscle. It supplies latissimus dorsi on its deep surface.
The latissimus dorsi is occasionally used for transplantation, and for augmentation of systole in cardiac failure. In these cases, the nerve supply is preserved.
Nerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
present in humans and other animals. It is also known as the middle subscapular nerve or the long subscapular nerve. It supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.
It arises from the brachial plexus
Brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...
. It derives its fibers from the sixth, seventh, and eighth cervical nerves
Cervical nerves
The cervical nerves are the spinal nerves from the cervical vertebrae.Although there are seven cervical vertebrae , there are eight cervical nerves . All nerves except C8 emerge above their corresponding vertebrae, while the C8 nerve emerges below the C7 vertebra...
. It is derived from their ventral rami, in spite of the fact that the latissimus dorsi is found in the back. The thoracodorsal nerve is a branch of the posterior cord
Posterior cord
The posterior cord is a part of the brachial plexus. It consists of contributions from all of the roots of the brachial plexus.The posterior cord gives rise to the following nerves:...
of the brachial plexus
Brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...
, and is made up of fibres from the posterior divisions of all three trunks of the brachial plexus.
It follows the course of the subscapular artery
Subscapular artery
The subscapular artery, the largest branch of the axillary artery, arises at the lower border of the Subscapularis muscle, which it follows to the inferior angle of the scapula, where it anastomoses with the lateral thoracic and intercostal arteries and with the descending branch of the transverse...
, along the posterior wall of the axilla to the Latissimus dorsi, in which it may be traced as far as the lower border of the muscle. It supplies latissimus dorsi on its deep surface.
The latissimus dorsi is occasionally used for transplantation, and for augmentation of systole in cardiac failure. In these cases, the nerve supply is preserved.
External links
- Dissection Video of Superficial Back showing the Thoracodorsal Nerve - "The major subdivisions and terminal nerves of the brachial plexus."