Thoracodorsal nerve

Nerve: Thoracodorsal nerve
Plan of brachial plexus. (Label for thoracodorsal nerve at bottom center.)
Latissimus dorsi
Latin	nervus thoracodorsalis
Gray's	subject #210 934
Innervates	Latissimus dorsi muscle
From	posterior cord (C6-C8)

The thoracodorsal nerve is a nerve present in humans and other animals. It is also known as the middle subscapular nerve or the long subscapular nerve. It supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.

It arises from the brachial plexus. It derives its fibers from the sixth, seventh, and eighth cervical nerves. It is derived from their ventral rami, in spite of the fact that the latissimus dorsi is found in the back. The thoracodorsal nerve is a branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, and is made up of fibres from the posterior divisions of all three trunks of the brachial plexus.

It follows the course of the subscapular artery, along the posterior wall of the axilla to the Latissimus dorsi, in which it may be traced as far as the lower border of the muscle. It supplies latissimus dorsi on its deep surface.

The latissimus dorsi is occasionally used for transplantation, and for augmentation of systole in cardiac failure. In these cases, the nerve supply is preserved.

Additional images

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  Brachial plexus

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  The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front.

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  Brachial plexus with courses of spinal nerves shown

External links

• Thoracodorsal+nerve at eMedicine Dictionary
• Dissection Video of Superficial Back showing the Thoracodorsal Nerve
• SUNY Figs 05:03-10 - "The major subdivisions and terminal nerves of the brachial plexus."

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.