title: Spinal nerve root compositions of musculocutaneous nerve: an anatomical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to investigate the variations in the spinal nerve root compositions of musculocutaneous nerve and to confirm which spinal nerve root is the main ingredient in participating amount.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 fresh cadavers were dissected. Brachial plexus and its branches were extracted. Musculocutaneous nerve stump was traced back to the roots to identify its fascicular origin. The number of fascicles originating from a particular nerve root and their axial location with in the nerve were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent type of spinal nerve compositions of musculocutaneous nerve was C5, C6, and C7 with incidence of 60%. Musculocutaneous nerve had bundles from C5 root in all specimens, 90% of the specimens had contribution from C6 and only 70% of them had bundles from C7 root. There were a total of 46 (37.7%) bundles in C5 fascicles, 48 (39.3%) bundles in C6 fascicles, and 28 (22.9%) bundles in C7 fascicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In electrophysiological studies it should be remembered that C7 or C6 lesions may not impair musculocutaneous nerve functions. The success of musculocutaneous nerve neurotization may be improved if care is taken to ensure whether or not C7 root is contributing to the musculocutaneous nerve.
authors.affiliation: Baskent University, School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demircay
authors.forename: Ahmet Murat
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Musluman
authors.forename: Tufan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cansever
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yuce
authors.forename: Erdinc
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Civelek
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kabatas
authors.forename: Taskin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozdes
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sam
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D009138:Musculocutaneous Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology