Skip to main content

Upper Extremity Nerves

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Atlas of Peripheral Nerve Ultrasound
  • 3176 Accesses

Abstract

The major nerves of the upper extremity include the axillary nerve, the musculocutaneous nerve, the medial brachial cutaneous nerve, the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, the radial nerve, the ulnar nerve, and the median nerve. A basic knowledge of regional anatomy and topography of these nerves and their major branches is an essential prerequisite for sonographic examinations. By means of landmarks the respective nerve can be easily localized in specific sections of its course. In addition, certain locations exist, where these nerves traverse through narrow tunnels or along bony ridges (such as the carpal tunnel, the ulnar sulcus, or the radial groove). These regions are especially prone for nerve compression or injury and have distinct anatomical features, which must be known to constantly achieve high-quality sonographic diagnoses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Altinok MT, Baysal O, Karakas HM, Firat AK (2004) Sonographic examination of the carpal tunnel after provocative exercises. J Ultrasound Med 23:1301–1306

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bargalló X, Carrera A, Sala-Blanch X, Santamaría G, Morro R, Llusá M, Gilabert R (2010) Ultrasound-anatomic correlation of the peripheral nerves of the upper limb. Surg Radiol Anat 32(3):305–314

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodner G, Huber B, Schwabegger A et al (1999) Sonographic detection of radial nerve entrapment within a humerus fracture. J Ultrasound Med 18:703–706

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodner G, Harpf C, Gardetto A, Kovacs P, Gruber H, Peer S, Mallhoui A (2002) Ultrasonography of the accessory nerve. Normal and pathological findings in cadavers and patients with iatrogenic accessory nerve palsy. J Ultrasound Med 21:1159–1163

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buchberger W, Schoen G, Strasser K et al (1991) High resolution ultrasonography of the carpal tunnel. J Ultrasound Med 101:531–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiou HJ, Chou YH, Cheng SP et al (1998) Cubital tunnel syndrome: diagnosis by high resolution ultrasonography. J Ultrasound Med 17:643–648

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Laat EA, Visser CP, Coene LN, Pahlplatz PV, Tavy DL (1994) Nerve lesions in primary shoulder dislocations and humeral neck fractures. A prospective clinical and EMG study. J Bone Joint Surg Br 76:381–383

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan I, Sullivan P, Lomas F (1999) Sonography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. AJR Am J Roentgenol 173:681–684

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fornage BD (1988) Peripheral nerves of the extremities: imaging with ultrasound. Radiology 167:179–182

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gassner E, Schocke M, Peer S, Schwabegger A, Jaschke W, Bodner G (2002) Persistent median artery in the carpal tunnel – color Doppler ultrasonographic findings. J Ultrasound Med 21:455–461

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunderfund AN, Boon AJ, Mandrekar JN, Sorenson EJ (2011) Sonography in carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle Nerve 44(4):485–491

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson JA, Fessell DP, Lobo Lda G, Yang LJ (2010) Entrapment neuropathies I: upper limb (carpal tunnel excluded). Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 14(5):473–486

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linda DD, Harish S, Stewart BG, Finlay K, Parasu N, Rebello RP (2010) Multimodality imaging of peripheral neuropathies of the upper limb and brachial plexus. Radiographics 30(5):1373–1400

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loewy J (2002) Sonoanatomy of the median, ulnar and radial nerves. Can Assoc Radiol J 53(1):33–38

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martinoli C, Serafini G, Bianchi S et al (1996) Ultrasonography of peripheral nerves. J Peripher Nerv Syst 1:169–174

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller TT, Reinus WR (2010) Nerve entrapment syndromes of the elbow, forearm, and wrist. AJR Am J Roentgenol 195(3):585–594

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prevel CD, Matloub HS, Zhong Y et al (1993) The extrinsic blood supply of the ulnar nerve at the elbow: an anatomic study. J Hand Surg 18A:433–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Riffaud L, Morandi X, Godey B et al (1999) Anatomic basis for the compression and neurolysis of the deep branch of the radial nerve in the radial tunnel. Surg Radiol Anat 21:229–233

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarria L, Cabada T, Cozcolluela R, Martinez-Berganza T, Garcia S (2000) Carpal tunnel syndrome: usefulness of sonography. Eur Radiol 10:1920–1925

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard DG, Iyer RB, Fenstermacher MJ (1998) Brachial plexus: demonstration at US. Radiology 208:402–406

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silvestri E, Martinoli C, Derchi LE et al (1995) Echotexture of peripheral nerves: correlation between US and histologic findings and criteria to differentiate tendons. Radiology 197:291–296

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas SJ, Yakin DE, Parry BR, Lubahn JD (2000) The anatomical relationship between the posterior interosseous nerve and the supinator muscle. J Hand Surg [Am] 25:936–941

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker FO, Cartwright MS, Wiesler ER, Caress J (2004) Ultrasound of nerve and muscle. Clin Neurophysiol 115:495–507

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michaela Plaikner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Plaikner, M., Gruber, H., Judmaier, W., Brenner, E. (2013). Upper Extremity Nerves. In: Peer, S., Gruber, H. (eds) Atlas of Peripheral Nerve Ultrasound. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25594-6_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25594-6_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-25593-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-25594-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics