Nervous System of the Shoulder, Anterior View

Description

Emerging from the lower cervical region, the brachial plexus is shown anteriorly as ventral rami from C5 to T1 converge into trunks in the posterior triangle, then pass inferior to the clavicle toward the axilla. Cords organize around the second part of the axillary artery and give rise to the musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, radial, and axillary nerves, which course distally into the arm. Superficially, key bony landmarks orient the field: the clavicle runs horizontally superior to the plexus, the acromion caps the lateral shoulder, and the scapula forms the posterior-lateral boundary of the pectoral girdle. Spatial relationships are clear. Branches sweep laterally toward the deltoid region and medially toward the thoracic wall. An anterior shoulder nerve map matters because this is the working corridor for regional anesthesia and common iatrogenic injuries. Interscalene and supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks target the roots and trunks near the scalene interval and first rib, where needle trajectory must respect the plexus’ compact arrangement and its proximity to the subclavian vessels. The same anatomy underpins classic entrapment and traction patterns: thoracic outlet syndrome at the scalene triangle or costoclavicular space, and axillary nerve vulnerability around the surgical neck of the humerus during anterior shoulder dislocation. Landmarks, not guesswork. Use this plate in gross anatomy and neuroanatomy teaching to bridge spinal nerve roots to named terminal branches, or in anesthesia and orthopedics materials to illustrate block approaches, trauma mechanisms, and postoperative sensory deficits across the shoulder and upper limb. It also fits patient-facing explanations of brachial plexopathy and thoracic outlet compression when paired with dermatomal and myotomal overlays. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.