Complex variation of median nerve: A case report

Abstract

During routine dissections we saw complex variation of median nerve in the right arm of an adult male cadaver. Lateral cord continued as lateral root of median nerve without giving off musculocutaneous nerve and it formed median nerve joining with medial root of median nerve which arises from medial cord. There was a communicating accessory branch 2.5 cm long running obliquely between the cords which formed the median nerve. Coracobrachialis muscle was innervated by a thin branch arising from lateral cord. Median nerve given two branches at a point 9 cm distal to its formation. First branch supplied to biceps brachii, the second branch continued as brachial muscle's nerve and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Main trunk passed through the cubital fossa and ran along the forearm following the normal course of median nerve. We think it is important that clinicians performing surgical procedures or nerve blocks in this region should consider this variation in order to avoid failures and complications.