Thoracodorsal nerve
Updates to Article Attributes
The thoracodorsal nerve also known as the middle subscapular or long subscapular nerve arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus and supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Gross anatomy
Origin
The thoracodorsal nerve arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus with fibres from the sixth, seventh and eighth cervical nerves.
Course and relations
After branching from the posterior cord between the upper and lower subscapular nerves, the thoracodorsal nerve runs down the posterior axillary wall. At its origin it is posterior to the sub scapularsubscapular artery. However, as it descends along the posterior wall of the axilla it comes to lie anterior to the the artery, then called thethoracodorsal artery.
The thoracodorsal nerve crosses the lower border of the teres major muscle and enters the deep surface of the latissimus dorsi with with terminal branches of the nerve extending to the inferior border of the muscle.
Branches and supply
The thoracodorsal nerve supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle..
Variant anatomy
The thoracodorsal nerve may arise from the axillary nerve or from a common trunk with the upper and lower subscapular nerve nerves in a small proportion of the population.
Related pathology
The thoracodorsal nerve may be damaged in surgical procedures of the lower axilla. The nerve supply is preserved in surgical flaps involving the latissimus dorsi and occasionally the nerve is harvested and grafted for facial nerve reconstruction.
-<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->The <strong>thoracodorsal nerve</strong> also known as the <strong>middle subscapular </strong>or <strong>long subscapular </strong>nerve arises from the posterior cord of the<a href="/articles/brachial-plexus"> brachial plexus</a> and supplies the <a href="/articles/latissimus-dorsi-muscle">latissimus dorsi</a> muscle.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin</h5><p>The thoracodorsal nerve arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus with fibres from the sixth, seventh and eighth cervical nerves.</p><h5>Course and relations</h5><p>After branching from the posterior cord between the upper and lower subscapular nerves, the thoracodorsal nerve runs down the posterior axillary wall. At its origin it is posterior to the <a href="/articles/subscapular-artery">sub scapular artery</a>. However, as it descends along the posterior wall of the axilla it comes to lie anterior to the artery, then called the <a href="/articles/thoracodorsal-artery">thoracodorsal artery</a>. </p><p>The thoracodorsal nerve crosses the lower border of the <a href="/articles/teres-major-muscle">teres major muscle</a> and enters the deep surface of the <a href="/articles/latissimus-dorsi">latissimus dorsi</a> with terminal branches of the nerve extending to the inferior border of the muscle.</p><h5>Branches and supply</h5><p>The thoracodorsal nerve supplies the <a href="/articles/latissimus-dorsi-muscle">latissimus dorsi muscle</a>.</p><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><p>The thoracodorsal nerve may arise from the <a href="/articles/axillary-nerve">axillary nerve</a> or from a common trunk with the upper and lower subscapular nerve in a small proportion of the population.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><p>The thoracodorsal nerve may be damaged in surgical procedures of the lower axilla. The nerve supply is preserved in surgical flaps involving the latissimus dorsi and occasionally the nerve is harvested and grafted for facial nerve reconstruction. </p><p><!--EndFragment--></p>- +<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->The <strong>thoracodorsal nerve</strong> also known as the <strong>middle subscapular </strong>or <strong>long subscapular </strong>nerve arises from the posterior cord of the<a href="/articles/brachial-plexus"> brachial plexus</a> and supplies the <a title="Latissimus dorsi" href="/articles/latissimus-dorsi">latissimus dorsi</a> muscle.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin</h5><p>The thoracodorsal nerve arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus with fibres from the sixth, seventh and eighth cervical nerves.</p><h5>Course and relations</h5><p>After branching from the posterior cord between the upper and lower subscapular nerves, the thoracodorsal nerve runs down the posterior axillary wall. At its origin it is posterior to the <a href="/articles/subscapular-artery">subscapular artery</a>. However, as it descends along the posterior wall of the axilla it comes to lie anterior to the artery, then called the <a href="/articles/thoracodorsal-artery">thoracodorsal artery</a>. </p><p>The thoracodorsal nerve crosses the lower border of the <a href="/articles/teres-major-muscle">teres major muscle</a> and enters the deep surface of the latissimus dorsi with terminal branches of the nerve extending to the inferior border of the muscle.</p><h5>Branches and supply</h5><p>The thoracodorsal nerve supplies the <a title="Latissimus dorsi" href="/articles/latissimus-dorsi">latissimus dorsi muscle.</a></p><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><p>The thoracodorsal nerve may arise from the <a href="/articles/axillary-nerve">axillary nerve</a> or from a common trunk with the <a title="Upper subscapular nerve" href="/articles/upper-subscapular-nerve">upper</a> and <a title="Lower subscapular nerve" href="/articles/lower-subscapular-nerve">lower subscapular</a> nerves in a small proportion of the population.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><p>The thoracodorsal nerve may be damaged in surgical procedures of the lower axilla. The nerve supply is preserved in surgical flaps involving the latissimus dorsi and occasionally the nerve is harvested and grafted for facial nerve reconstruction. </p><p><!--EndFragment--></p>
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