The recurrent branch of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm

Cutaneous nerves of the upper arm were observed in 31 Japanese cadavers dissected in a student course of gross anatomy dissection and in cadaver selected randomly for intensive dissection. Contrary to the descriptions in current textbooks of human anatomy, the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm supplies also the skin over the distal region of the anterolateral surface of the upper arm. A branch to the upper arm (the recurrent branch) arises from the proper trunk of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm, recurs along the cephalic vein as far as the middle third of the upper arm and distributes filaments to the skin close to the vein.