- Thoracodorsal nerve
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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
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 As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
Nerves of upper limbs (primarily): the brachial plexus (C5–T1) (TA A14.2.03, GA 9.930) Supraclavicular Infraclavicular cutaneous: medial cutaneous of forearm · medial cutaneous of arm
ulnar: muscular · palmar · dorsal (dorsal digital nerves) · superficial (common palmar digital, proper palmar digital) · deep
median/medial root: see abovesubscapular (upper, lower) · thoracodorsal
axillary (superior lateral cutaneous of arm)
radial: muscular · cutaneous (posterior of arm, inferior lateral of arm, posterior of forearm) · superficial (dorsal digital nerves) · deep (posterior interosseous)Other Categories:- Neuroscience stubs
- Nerves of the upper limb
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