Anatomy Review: Neuroanatomy of The Shoulder

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be putting together a selection of educational resources that students can use to supplement in-class lessons.

This post features a drag and drop activity where the learner uses labels to identify the different neurovascular structures of the shoulder

Anatomy Review: Neuroanatomy of The Shoulder

Medial axillary space – The Axillary space is bounded by teres major muscle, teres minor muscle and humerus. The long head of triceps brachii splits this area into medial and lateral group. Scapular circumflex artery and scapular circumflex vein pass through it.

Lateral axillary space – The axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery can be irritated by soft tissue structures. Symptoms include axillary nerve related weakness of the deltoid muscle, resulting in a reduction in shoulder abduction. The pain from axillary neuropathy is usually dull and aching rather than sharp, and increases with increasing range of motion. Many people notice only mild pain but considerable weakness when they try to use the affected shoulder.

Triangular interval – The radial nerve and profunda brachii artery pass through the triangular interval, on route to the posterior compartment of the arm. The triceps brachii has potential to irritate the radial nerve in the triangular interval.

Image Credit - Anatomy and Physiology by OpenStax is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0