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Distribution of the axillary nerve to the subacromial bursa and the area around the long head of the biceps tendon

  • Shoulder
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Patients with a shoulder disorder often complain of pain on the anterior or lateral aspect of the shoulder. Such pain has been thought to originate from the suprascapular nerve. However, taking into consideration the distinctive course of the axillary nerve, the axillary nerve is likely to supply branches to the structure around the shoulder joint. This study was conducted to clarify the division, course, and distribution of the branches which originate from the axillary nerve and innervate structures around the shoulder joint.

Methods

The division, course, and distribution of the branches which originate from the axillary nerve and innervate structures around the shoulder joint were examined macroscopically by dissecting 20 shoulders of 10 adult Japanese cadavers.

Results

The thin branches from the anterior branch of the axillary nerve were distributed to the subacromial bursa and the area around the long head of the biceps tendon. The branches from the main trunk of the axillary nerve or the branch to the teres minor muscle were distributed to the infero-posterior part of the shoulder joint.

Conclusion

The pain on the anterior or lateral aspect of the shoulder, which has been thought to originate from the suprascapular nerve, might be related to the thin branches which originate from the axillary nerve and innervate the subacromial bursa and the area around the long head of the biceps tendon.

Clinical relevance

These results would be useful to consider the cause of the shoulder pain or to prevent the residual pain after the biceps tenodesis.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (No. 90622556).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan

    H. Nasu, A. Nimura, K. Yamaguchi & K. Akita

Authors
  1. H. Nasu
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  2. A. Nimura
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  3. K. Yamaguchi
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  4. K. Akita
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Correspondence to K. Akita.

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Nasu, H., Nimura, A., Yamaguchi, K. et al. Distribution of the axillary nerve to the subacromial bursa and the area around the long head of the biceps tendon. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 2651–2657 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3112-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3112-4

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