Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2009 Dec;22(4):279-285.

Case Report of the Bilateral Absence of the Musculocutaneous Nerve Combined with the Unilateral Brachioradial Artery

• Song DY
• Oh KM
• Lee JH
• Woo RS
• Yu HN
• Baik TK

Abstract

During the routine gross anatomical dissection, bilateral absence of the musculocutaneous nerve and unilateral brachioradial artery were found in a 76-year-old Korean male cadaver. At the apex of the axilla, the lateral cord of the brachial plexus united into the median nerve without branching off the musculocutaneous nerve. The flexor arm musculatures, normally innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve, were innervated by two separate branches from the median nerve. The distal one continued as the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. In addition, the radial artery of the left arm was originated from the middle one-third of the brachial artery. At bifurcation, it lay deep to the median nerve and crossed it medially. However, at the elbow, it crossed again the median nerve anterolaterally. Just above the cubital fossa, it anastomosed with the brachial artery. The arterial distribution of the right arm was normal. The separate reports which described the absence of the musculocutaneous nerve or brachioradial artery have been reported. However, this combined variation has not been documented until now.

Keyword

Musculocutaneous nerve; Brachioradial artery; Anatomical variations

MeSH Terms

Aged
Arm
Arteries
Axilla
Brachial Artery
Brachial Plexus
Cadaver
Elbow
Humans
Male
Median Nerve
Musculocutaneous Nerve
Radial Artery