Absence of musculocutaneous nerve: Two case reports

Anomalies of the brachial plexus including its terminal branches as well as the course and distribution of the nerves in the upper limb have been repo rted in the Literature. Two cases of absent musculocutaneous nerve from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus encountered during routine gross anato mical dissection are reported. The median nerve took over the area of suppl y of the musculocutanoeus nerve by giving both the muscular and sensory bra nches. Out of 24 upper Limbs dissected, the musculocutaneous nerve was foun d to be absent in 8% of the cases. The clinical implications of the absent musculocutaneous nerve and its etiology in light of its development is disc ussed. Clin. Anat. 14:31-35, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.