Plexus Groupings & Peripheral Nerves

During this Presentation I will

• Define a Plexus
• List the different plexuses
• Tell the main peripheral nerves that are in each plexus
• Inform you on what happens when these nerves are damaged

A nerve plexus is formed when nerve fibers converge, or come together

Each plexus sorts out the many fibers and sends them to a specific part of the body.

There are 3 main Plexus Groups

• Cervical
• Brachial
• Lumbosacral

The cervical plexus

• Located between C1- C4
• Fibers supply muscles and skin of the neck

The nerve in the Cervical Plexus

The Phrenic Nerve stimulates the contraction of the diaphragm.

if the phrenic nerve is damaged, then impulses to the diaphragm are interrupted, and it makes it difficult to breathe.

The next type of Plexus is

The brachial plexus

• is located between C5 and C8, and on T1
• supplies the muscles and skin of the shoulder, forearm, wrist, and hand

There are 2 main nerves in the brachial plexus.
1. Axillary Nerves
2. Radial/Ulnar Nerves

Axillary Nerve

• located in the shoulder region
• usually weight of the whole body damages the nerve, this is called Crutch Palsy

Radial/Ulnar Nerve

• Both serve the forearm, wrist, and hand
• damage to the radial nerve causes "wristdrop"
• damage to the ulnar nerve causes the hand to appear clawlike

The third type of Plexus is

The lumbosacral plexus

• is located on T12, between L1 & L5, and between S1 & S4
• gives rise to nerves that supply the muscle and skin of the abdominal wall, external genitalia, buttocks, and lower extremities

The Lumbosacral Nerve is known as the Sciatic Nerve

Sciatic Nerve

• supplies musculature of the thigh, leg, and foot
• is the longest nerve in the body

Damaging of this nerve can cause intense pain in the buttocks and posterior thigh region. It is usually caused by a ruptured or herniated vertebral disc.

Yay! It's finally over