Superior Trunk of the Brachial Plexus, Lateral View

Description

Oriented in lateral profile, the cervical spine and shoulder girdle frame the superior trunk of the brachial plexus as it forms from the union of the C5 and C6 ventral rami and tracks inferolaterally from the intervertebral foramina toward the supraclavicular region. Proximal to the clavicle, the trunk divides into anterior and posterior divisions, positioned deep to the expected plane of the scalene triangle and anterior to the transverse processes of the mid cervical vertebrae. The clavicle lies anterior and inferior to the plexus as it courses toward the axilla, while the scapula and upper ribs provide posterior and inferior skeletal landmarks. Nerve elements are rendered as yellow trajectories against the bony anatomy for clear spatial orientation. Lateral views like this earn their keep when you are teaching, or planning, how traction and compression injuries occur at the root and trunk level. Upper trunk lesions are classic in Erb-Duchenne palsy after shoulder depression with contralateral neck flexion, and this angle makes the superior trunk’s relatively fixed position between the cervical spine and the shoulder girdle easy to explain. It also supports discussions of supraclavicular nerve blocks and surgical exposure around the posterior triangle, where relationships to the clavicle, first rib, and scalene interval dictate safe needle or dissection planes. A tight anatomic corridor. Use this asset in gross anatomy and neuroanatomy coursework to trace roots, trunk, divisions, and early branches in a single glance, and in orthopedic or peripheral nerve publications describing C5-C6 radiculopathy versus trunk-level neuropathy patterns. It also fits patient education for brachial plexus injury mechanisms when paired with dermatome and myotome charts. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.