Branches of medial cord of brachial plexus

Rami fasciculi medialis plexus brachialis

  • Related terms: Branches of medial cord

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

The branches of medial cord of brachial plexus include:

  • Medial pectoral nerve (C8, T1): This nerve innervates both the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles.

  • Medial cutaneous nerve of arm (C8, T1): Responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin of the medial arm.

  • Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm (C8, T1): This nerve supplies sensory innervation to the skin of the medial forearm.

  • Ulnar nerve (C8, T1): The ulnar nerve innervates some of the forearm muscles (e.g., flexor carpi ulnaris and the medial half of flexor digitorum profundus) and most intrinsic hand muscles (e.g., the hypothenar muscles, interossei, and medial lumbricals). It also provides sensation to the medial 1½ fingers (the little finger and half of the ring finger) and the corresponding part of the hand.

  • Medial root of the median nerve (C8, T1): Combines with the lateral root (from the lateral cord) to form the median nerve, which provides motor innervation to the flexor surface of forearm and hand, and sensations for the palmar aspect of the lateral 3½ fingers.

References

  • Polcaro L, Charlick M, Daly DT. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Brachial Plexus. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531473/

  • Johnson EO, Vekris M, Demesticha T, Soucacos PN. Neuroanatomy of the brachial plexus: normal and variant anatomy of its formation. Surg Radiol Anat. 2010 Mar;32(3):291-7.