Ultrasound–anatomic correlation of the peripheral nerves of the upper limb

Background Sonography allows good visualization of the peripheral nerves and the vascular and muscular structures that surround them. Our goals are to provide an easy-to-use atlas that gives accurate information about the locations and relations among the nerves in the different parts of the arm and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) 2010-03, Vol.32 (3), p.305-314
Main Authors: Bargalló, Xavier, Carrera, Anna, Sala-Blanch, Xavier, Santamaría, Gorane, Morro, Rosa, LLusá, Manuel, Gilabert, Rosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomy
Anatomy & physiology
Arms
Cadaver
Humans
Imaging
Median Nerve - anatomy & histology
Median Nerve - diagnostic imaging
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Nervous system
Orthopedics
Peripheral Nerves - anatomy & histology
Peripheral Nerves - diagnostic imaging
Radial Nerve - anatomy & histology
Radial Nerve - diagnostic imaging
Radiology
Reference Values
Surgery
Teaching Anatomy
Ulnar Nerve - anatomy & histology
Ulnar Nerve - diagnostic imaging
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonography, Doppler - methods
Upper Extremity - anatomy & histology
Upper Extremity - diagnostic imaging
Upper Extremity - innervation
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Summary:Background Sonography allows good visualization of the peripheral nerves and the vascular and muscular structures that surround them. Our goals are to provide an easy-to-use atlas that gives accurate information about the locations and relations among the nerves in the different parts of the arm and to correlate it with the probe position and the ultrasound images. Materials and methods A cadaver right arm was used for the present study. The arterial and venous vessels were injected with red and blue-colored latex to obtain a better correlation with ultrasound slices from two healthy volunteers. The specimen was frozen and then cut into slices with an average thickness of 2 cm, starting from the lower part of the axilla. Results Close correlation was present between the ultrasound and anatomic slices identifying the main muscular, vascular and nervous structures. In the arm, median, ulnar and radial nerves were easily seen because of the proximity to vascular landmark and their size. In the forearm, the ulnar nerve was also easy to identify because of the factors previously mentioned; the median nerve was easy to locate between the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus muscles. The superficial branch of the radial arm was seen in most cases, although some skill was required. Conclusion Ultrasound is a useful tool to identify the main nerves of the upper arm. This atlas indicates the locations and relations among the nerves, correlating with the ultrasound appearance.
ISSN:0930-1038
1279-8517
DOI:10.1007/s00276-009-0583-y