Bilateral Long Head of the Triceps Brachii Muscle Innervation via Axillary Nerve: A Case Report

  • William M. Scogin Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Alexandra R Vinson Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Cristina B Pfister Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Kathryn M Johnson Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Jamie N Holmes Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Hannah E. Capps Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Cassidy R. Romans Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • R. Mark Caulkins Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
  • Kathleen E. McKeon Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Centers, 805 St. Vincents Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, USA
  • Nicholas B. Washmuth Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229, USA
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61797/ijcsav.v4i1.228
Keywords: Axillary nerve, Triceps brachii long head, Anatomical variation, Clinical significance

Abstract

The radial nerve has traditionally been considered the innervation of the long head of the triceps brachii (LHT). However, cadaveric studies have discovered LHT innervation via the axillary nerve in roughly 6-15 % of shoulders. A cadaver with exclusive axillary nerve innervation to the LHT bilaterally was discovered during cadaveric dissection in a graduate course at Samford University. This anatomical variation may have clinical implications for surgeries, shoulder dislocations, and quadrilateral space syndrome. Axillary nerve injuries may additionally present with shoulder extension and elbow extension weakness if this variation is present. 

Published
2023-05-12
Issue
Vol 4 No 1 (2023): Int J Cadaver Stud Ant Var
Section
Articles

Copyright (c) 2023 William M Scogin, Alexandra R Vinson, Cristina B Pfister, Kathryn M Johnson, Jamie N Holmes, Hannah E Capps, Cassidy R Romans, R Mark Caulkins, Kathleen E McKeon, Nicholas B Washmuth

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Copyright © by the authors; licensee Research Lake International Inc., Canada. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (CC BY-NC) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).