Brachial Plexus — Extended Schematic Map (GEAR)
Topological metro-style map of the brachial plexus, GEAR-branded.
The Brachial Plexus
ROOTS
TRUNKS
DIVISIONS
CORDS
TERMINAL NERVES
NAMED SUB-BRANCHES
→ Contribution to phrenic nerve (C5)
Dorsal scapular nerve (C5)
Long thoracic nerve (C5–C7)
Suprascapular nerve (C5–C6)
Nerve to subclavius (C5–C6)
Lateral pectoral nerve (C5–C7)
Upper subscapular nerve (C5–C6)
Thoracodorsal nerve (C6–C8)
Lower subscapular nerve (C5–C6)
Medial pectoral nerve (C8–T1)
Medial brachial cutaneous nerve (T1)
Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (C8–T1)
T2
(2nd intercostal)
Intercostobrachial nerve
C5
C6
C7
C8
T1
SUPERIOR
MIDDLE
INFERIOR
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
LATERAL CORD
POSTERIOR CORD
MEDIAL CORD
MUSCULOCUTANEOUS
(C5–C7)
AXILLARY
(C5–C6)
MEDIAN
(C5–T1, dual root: lateral + medial cord)
RADIAL
(C5–T1)
ULNAR
(C8–T1)
Muscular branches → biceps brachii, brachialis, coracobrachialis
Lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm
Anterior branch → motor (anterior + middle deltoid)
+ cutaneous to anterior & anterolateral shoulder
Posterior branch → teres minor, posterior deltoid, and
Superior lateral brachial cutaneous nerve
Articular branches → posterior glenohumeral joint capsule
Muscular branches → pronator teres, FCR, palmaris longus, FDS
Anterior interosseous nerve
Palmar cutaneous branch → thenar & palm skin
Recurrent motor branch → thenar muscles
Common & proper palmar digital nerves
Muscular branches (arm) → triceps brachii, anconeus
+ posterior cutaneous branches (brachial, lower lateral, antebrachial)
Muscular branches (forearm) → brachioradialis, ECRL
Deep branch → Posterior interosseous nerve
(motor to wrist/finger extensors, articular to wrist)
Superficial branch → Superficial radial nerve
(articular branches to elbow joint)
Muscular branches (forearm) → FCU, medial half of FDP
Palmar cutaneous branch → hypothenar palm skin
Dorsal cutaneous branch
Deep branch → intrinsic hand motor
(hypothenar, interossei, adductor pollicis, 3rd/4th lumbricals)
Superficial branch → palmaris brevis (motor)
+ palmar digital n. to 5th & medial half of 4th finger
INTERSCALENE BLOCK
SUPERIOR TRUNK BLOCK
SSN BLOCK
SUPRACLAVICULAR BLOCK
INFRACLAVICULAR BLOCK
COSTOCLAVICULAR BLOCK
AXILLARY BLOCK
AXILLARY N. BLOCK
ITM PLANE BLOCK
ICBN BLOCK
MID-HUMERAL
MED ELBOW
RAD ELBOW
ULN ELBOW
LCNF BLOCK
MED FA
ULN FA
RAD FA
PIN BLOCK
DIGITAL BLOCK
BLOCK COLOR LEGEND
Interscalene
Superior trunk
Suprascapular n.
Supraclavicular
Infraclavicular
Costoclavicular
Axillary BPB
Axillary n.
ITM plane
Intercostobrachial
Mid-humeral
Median at elbow
Radial at elbow
Ulnar at elbow
LCNF (terminal MCN)
Median at forearm
Ulnar at forearm
Radial at forearm
PIN (deep radial)
Digital nerve block
Blocks