Axillary nerve

The axillary nerve ( " axillary nerve" ) is a nerve of the brachial plexus. It has its roots in the human spinal cord 5 to 7 cervical segment (C5 - C6), in domestic animals in the C6 - C8.

Course

The nerve passes together with the artery posterior circumflex humeral ( in animals caudalis rather than posterior) between the humerus and the long head of the triceps brachii, above the teres major on the outside of the shoulder (referred to as " quadrangular space " in humans, in animals axillary as spatium proximal ).

Innervation

The nerve provides motor innervation to some shoulder muscles:

• Deltoid
• Teres Minor
• Teres major ( in humans rather than the exception, in animals regularly)

The terminal branch of the axillary nerve is sensitive. It is known as cutaneous nerve brachii lateralis superior and innervates the skin of the lateral shoulder.

In the domestic animals arises from the terminal branch nor the antebrachial cutaneous nerve Cranial which supplies the front upper arm and the upper front portion of the forearm.

Clinic

The quadrangular space is adjacent to the surgical neck of the humerus. This body of the bone breaks particularly often. Therefore, the axillary nerve is at risk for upper arm fractures. It can be damaged by bone fragments or callus formation. With shoulder dislocation the nerve may be overstretched. Other injuries can be caused by arthroscopy.