“MUSCULOCUTANEOUS NERVE AND ITS VARIATIONS”

The precise knowledge of the course, branching pattern and erstwhile variations of the musculocutaneous nerve and its possible communication with the median nerve is valuable in traumatology of the shoulder joint, explorating procedures, flap dissections, etc.,. The intrafascicular distance of each branch of the musculocutaneous nerve is important in microsurgical procedures to develop or refine a surgical methods required, so as to plan adequate treatment and to avoid iatrogenic injuries to the nerve in the neurosurgical department thereby increasing the clear perfection of surgical operative and practical approach. The present study aims to find out the origin, course, branching pattern of musculocutaneous nerve and connections of musculocutaneous nerve in the arm. The present study presented with dissection method. Total 40 upper limbs was procured from embalmed cadavers of J.J.M. Medical College, Davanagere during 2011-12.the detailed study history was obtained from the hospital records. Collected data was analyzed by using Minitab -6.50 version University analyses was employed to draw the significant inference. Matched frequency was used to find out the variations between different categorical and clinical variables. Total 87.5% cases musculocutaneous nerve was arising from the lateral cord, 12.5% cases musculocutaneous nerve was absent and the median nerve was showed different branches to the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii and brachialis. 7.5% cases were musculocutaneous; piercing coracobrachialis muscle and 92.5% cases was seen piercing the coracobrachialis muscle. The mean point of the nerve piercing coracobrachialis emergence was 6.55 cms. 87.5% cases expressed the branch to coracobrachialis and it was from musculocutaneous nerve, 2.5% from lateral cord and 10% variation from median nerve with mean point of origin of nerve to short head and long head of biceps were 11.54 cm and 15.44cms respectively. The mean point of the origin nerve to brachialis was 16.41cm.Communication between musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve was noted in 17.5% cases. The present study, quantified that intercommunication between musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve is 17.5%. The number of branches to biceps brachii as varied between 1-2 cms and the number of branches to brachialis is varied between1-3cms.