Thoracic Spinal Nerves

Defects in roots of thoracic nerves have been reported. In one study of 16 spinal cords, only three had the full complement of thoracic roots. In three cases, one thoracic spinal nerve (dorsal and ventral roots) was absent; in three, a dorsal root was absent; and in seven, a ventral root was absent.

The first thoracic may fail to contribute to the formation of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus or it may be the sole source of the medial cord of the plexus.

The first and second thoracic nerves are occasionally joined by a connecting branch.

The lateral branch of the second thoracic, the intercostobrachial (intercostohumeral) nerve, may divide into an anterior and posterior division. The anterior division may, however, be absent. In either case, the lateral branch anastomoses with the medial brachial cutaneous, usually with the lateral branch of the third intercostal, and rarely with the lateral branch of the first intercostal if it is present.

Frequency of Occurrence of the Lateral Cutaneous Branch of the First Intercostal Nerve. (after Tachibana and Miyauchi)

Investigator

Frequency of Occurrence

%

No. found/No. body halves

Cave (1929)

92.5

(74/80)

Sato (1971)

8.7

(21/242)

Kasai/Chiba (1980)

11.5

(37/323)

Tachibana/Miyauchi

9.2

(29/316) The size of the intercostobrachial cutaneous nerve and the extent of its distribution are reportedly inversely proportional to the size of the other cutaneous nerves of the arm, especially the medial brachial cutaneous nerve. When the medial brachial cutaneous nerve is absent, it is replaced by the intercostobrachial nerve.

The first thoracic nerve may have no cutaneous branch. The sixth, seventh, and eighth nerves may provide cutaneous branches from both their lateral and medial branches. Thoracic spinal nerves supply the sternalis muscle, when present (3-5% of individuals), and the axillary arch muscle, when present.

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Riferimenti dell’opera originale

Elenco riportato come compare nella fonte, senza normalizzazione dei formati bibliografici.

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• Bishop, W.E., Carr, B.W., Anson, B.J. and F.L. Ashley. (1943) The parietal intermuscular plexus of the thoracic nerves. Q. Bull. Northwestern University Medical School. 17:209-216.
• Cave, A.J.E. (1929) The distribution of the first intercostal nerve and its relations to the first rib. J. Anat. 63:367-379.
• Chetrick, A. and L.R.M. del Guercio. (1951) Unusual brachial plexus formation. Yale J. Biol. Med. 23:395-398.
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• Kasai, T. and S. Chiba. (1980) Further observations on the cutaneous nerves to the upper arm arising from the medial cord of the brachial plexus. Acta. Anat. Nippon Tokyo 55:8-22. In Japanese with English abstract.
• Kodama, K. (1986) Morphological significance of the supracostal muscles, and superficial intercostal nerve: A new definition. Acta Anat. Nippon, Tokyo 61:107-129. in Japanese with English abstract.
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• Miyauchi, R. (1982) A case having abnormal nerve supply of the external oblique abdominal muscle with anomaly of the intercostal nerve. Acta Med. Nagasaki. 27:130-141.
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• Schaefer, E.A., Symington, J. and T.H. Bryce., Eds. (1915) Quain's Anatomy, 11th ed., Longmans, Green, and Co., London.
• Tachibana, G. and R. Miyauchi (1987) Nerve supply to and the true nature of anterior supracostal muscle: three cases of the anterior supracostal muscle innervated by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch. Anat. Anz. Jena 169:235-245.
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• Wilson, J.T. (1913) The innervation of the achselbogen muscle. J. Anat. Physiol. 47:8-17.