Nerve Shoulder Cutaneous Posterior

The posterior cutaneous nerve of the shoulder (Skin Nerve Brachialis Posterior, NCBP) is a peripheral nerve that runs from the brachial plexus to the skin on the back of the shoulder. It is responsible for innervation of the muscles and skin from the top of the shoulder to the elbow. The posterior cutaneous nerve transmits impulses to the brain that allow us to feel pressure and vibrations on the skin in this area.

Understanding the function of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the shoulder is important for treating injuries to this area. Injuries such as tendon and muscle strains, as well as nerve damage associated with acute and chronic illnesses, can disrupt nerve transmission and cause symptoms such as numbness, tingling or pain in the arms or shoulder. Effective treatment of these problems may require recognition and treatment of the posterior cutaneous nerve.

The posterior cutaneous nerve passes from the brachial cord of the spinal cord. To understand the anatomical location of a nerve, you need to know two structures:

- Brachial plexus: This bundle of nerves contains the anterior and posterior branches of the brachial nerves. They run up the back of the humerus and project into the humerus to create the shoulder joint. In the brachial plexus, the posterior cutaneous nerve corresponds to the anterior cutaneous branch, which supplies the skin over the humerus. - Dorsal neck: This arch of the spine is located between the first and second ribs and provides attachment to the brachialis muscle to the chest. It is in this place that the posterior cutaneous nerve ganglion is located.

The clinical features of the posterior cutaneous nerve in most cases also affect the arm in which it innervates. Typically the pain is felt in the back side of the arm from the shoulder to the elbow or just at the elbow. Numbness or itching may be experienced along the entire back of the arm. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness above the elbow, where the nerve meets the shoulder. In some cases, ulnar nerve palsy may occur. Unlike other peripheral nerves of the lower extremity, the posterior cutaneous nerves are not usually isolated and must be identified and treated along with other sensory nerves at this level. Even small lesions of the posterior skin of the shoulder result in severe symptoms, underscoring the importance of prompt recognition of these lesions. Treatment of the posterior cutaneous ganglion of the brachial plexus is usually associated with courses of physical therapy, chondroprotectors and medications to reduce inflammation. Recovery from injury to the anterior branches of the brachial nerves and spinal nerves is usually somewhat more complex and requires longer treatment.