A morphological study to note the anatomical variations in the branching pattern of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus

Brachial plexus through its branches innervates the upper limb. Variations in the arrangement and distribution of the lateral cord and its branches in the infraclavicular part of the brachial plexus are common and are of significance to the neurologists, surgeons, anaesthetists and the anatomists. To look for the branching pattern of the lateral cord of brachial plexus we dissected 25 upper limbs bilaterally. We found variation in 3 limbs. In 1^st limb musculocutaneous nerve (MUN) was absent and the lateral cord was supplying the brachialis (BM), coracobrachialis (CBM) and biceps brachii muscles (BBM). The lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm (LCBOF) was directly coming from the lateral cord of brachial plexus. The median nerve (MN) was formed at the junction of upper 1/3^rd and lower 2/3^rd of the arm by the joining of lateral and medial roots. In 2^nd limb MUN was coming from MN and branch to CBM was coming from lateral root of MN and branch to BM, BBM was coming from MUN and finally MUN was continuing as LCBOF. In 3^rd case we observed a communicating branch was coming from MN to MUN in the middle of arm. In 2^nd case we also observed an accessory head of BBM. It is would be important to be aware of these variations while planning a surgery in the region of axilla or arm as these nerves are more liable to be injured during operations.