Quick Facts
Origin: Medial cord of the brachial plexus.
Course: It runs inferiorly along the medial wall of the arm.
Branches: No named branches.
Supply: Sensory innervation. Supplies skin on the medial surface of the arm.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The medial brachial cutaneous nerve arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus. It contains fibers from spinal cord segments C8 and T1.
Course
The medial brachial cutaneous nerve emerges from the medial cord medial to the second portion of the axillary artery. Typically, its origin is distal to the origin of the medial pectoral nerve and proximal to the origin of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve.
It runs inferiorly, first posterior to and then medial to the axillary vein. As it passes into the arm, it continues inferiorly in the medial side of the arm, medial to the brachial vein.
Roughly midway down the arm, it passes through the superficial layer of the deep fascia to become subcutaneous and innervate skin of the medial and lower arm.
Branches
Along its course, the medial brachial cutaneous nerve does not branch. Commonly, it does receive a communicating branch from the intercostobrachial nerve.
Supplied Structures
The medial brachial cutaneous nerve is a sensory nerve. It supplies skin over the medial surface of the arm, particularly along the distal half.
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Cutaneous Nerve
The medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve is a pure sensory nerve that originates from the medial cord of the brachial plexus and innervates the skin of the medial forearm.
