CLASSIFICATION OF COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE MUSCULOCUTANEOUS AND MEDIAN NERVES

In 16 out of 79 cadavers 22 communications were found between the musc ulocutaneous and median nerves. In six subjects they were present bila terally. There were three types, based on the sites of communication. Type I: The communication was proximal to the entrance of the musculoc utaneous nerve into coracobrachialis (9/22); Type II: The communicatio n was distal to the muscle (10/22); Type III: The nerve as well as the communicating branch did not pierce the muscle (3/22). Bilateral comm unications were not necessarily of the same type. The possible clinica l implications of these communications (relating either to the surgica l approach to the shoulder joint, or to entrapment syndromes) are disc ussed. Clin. Anat. 11.327-331, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.