[Brachial Plexus: Dissection At The Laboratory Of Anatomy Of Bamako]

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Neuroscience

Context:

• The brachial plexus, formed by cervical and thoracic nerves, innervates the upper limb.
• Anatomical variations in the brachial plexus can impact clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose:

• To describe the anatomy of the brachial plexus from the cervical region to the mid-arm.
• To document variations in brachial plexus formation and branching patterns.

Summary:

• A prospective dissection study of 26 brachial plexuses from 13 adult cadavers (18 male, 8 female) aged 18-70 years was conducted.
• Late terminal branching occurred in 73.1% of cases, with variations noted in nerve blocks (3.8%) and fascicles (3.8%).
• The anterior branch of the C4 spinal nerve was involved in 46.2% of the dissected brachial plexuses.

Impact:

• Highlights the high frequency of anatomical variations in the brachial plexus.
• Emphasizes the necessity of detailed anatomical knowledge for managing brachial plexus lesions.
• Provides valuable data for anatomical education and surgical planning in the thoracic limb.