ABSENCE OF MUSCULOCUTANEOUS NERVE - A RARE VARIATION

This study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala in 100 upper limbs of 50 cadavers. The variations in the origin, course and branching pattern of musculocutaneous nerve were observed. Complete absence of musculocutaneous nerve was observed in the left upper limb (1%) of a male cadaver and median nerve was found to replace the musculocutaneous nerve. Knowledge of this kind of variation is of great use for the Anesthetists, Orthopaedicians and Plastic surgeons for diagnosing the condition as well as during reconstructive surgeries.