European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: The extensor compartment of the arm is occupied by triceps muscle, through which runs the radial nerve and profunda brachii artery. Triceps arises by three heads namely long head, lateral head and medial head. Triceps is innervated by radial nerve (C6, C7 and C8) with separate branches for each head. Triceps muscle and its main motor nerve namely the radial nerve have multiple connection modalities. Each of the motor branches to triceps might be used as a donor for nerve transplantation.
Methods: The present study was performed on 52 upper limbs of 26 formalin embalmed cadavers from department of anatomy, Nalanda medical college and Hospital, Patna. And helps of other medical college, Patna.  Study duration of two years. The   nerve supply to each head of triceps was traced and carefully followed to the source of each nerve branch and noted. Results: Present study of innervation of three heads of triceps brachii showed that motor branch of long head of triceps brachii was supplied by radial nerve in 82.6%, axillary nerve in 13.4% and by posterior cord in 04% of the limbs dissected. The lateral head of triceps brachii was supplied by radial nerve in spiral groove in all the cases. The medial head of triceps brachii was supplied by radial nerve in spiral groove in all cases and additionally even by ulnar collateral branch of radial nerve in 92.6% of the cases.
Conclusion: Gross anatomical knowledge of innervations pattern of triceps brachii and variations of its motor supply are important to medical personnel especially to orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, neurophysicians and physiotherapists for surgical treatment of traumatic nerve injuries, nerve grafting, neurophysiologic evaluation to diagnose peripheral neuropathy.