Abstract
To determine the 3D location of the intramuscular motor nerve endings of the biceps brachii and brachialis, we identified from 56 fresh cadaveric arms the regions where the intramuscular branches were most densely located in relation to a reference line connecting the medial epicondyle of humerus and the coracoid process. For the biceps, these points were most densely distributed at a length from 64.6 to 70.3% point of the reference line with the coracoid process as starting point, at a width of 21.6–32.6 mm lateral to the reference line. For the brachialis muscle, these points were located at a length of 75.4% point and width of 27.1–35.4 mm lateral to the reference line. At these points, the biceps was located at a depth of the upper two-third portion and the brachialis at the lower one-third portion of the upper arm, from skin to humeral bone.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amirali A, Mu L, Gracies JM, Simpson DM (2007) Anatomical localization of motor endplate bands in the human biceps brachii. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 9:306–312
Aquilonius SM, Arvidsson B, Askmark H, Gillberg PG (1982) Topographical localization of end-plates in cryosections of whole human biceps muscle. Muscle Nerve 5:418
Berweck S, Schroeder AS, Fietzek UM, Heinen F (2004) Sonography-guided injection of botulinum toxin in children with cerebral palsy. Lancet 363:249–250
Bhakta BB, Cozens JA, Bamford JM, Chamberlain MA (1996) Use of botulinum toxin in stroke patients with severe upper limb spasticity. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 61:30–35
Borodic GE, Ferrante R, Pearce LB, Smith K (1994) Histologic assessment of dose-related diffusion and muscle fiber response after therapeutic botulinum A toxin injections. Mov Disord 9:31–39
Buchanan TS, Erickson JC (1996) Selective block of the brachialis motor point. An anatomic investigation of musculocutaneous nerve branching. Reg Anesth 21:89–92
Chiarapattanakom P, Leechavengvongs S, Witoonchart K, Uerpairojkit C, Thuvasethakul P (1998) Anatomy and internal topography of the musculocutaneous nerve: the nerves to the biceps and brachialis muscle. J Hand Surg [Am] 23:250–255
Childers MK, Kornegay JN, Aoki R, Otaviani L, Bogan DJ, Petroski G (1998) Evaluating motor end-plate-targeted injections of botulinum toxin type A in a canine model. Muscle Nerve 21:653–655
Chin TY, Duncan JA, Johnstone BR, Graham HK (2005) Management of the upper limb in cerebral palsy. J Pediatr Orthop B 14:389–404
Chin TY, Graham HK (2003) Botulinum toxin A in the management of upper limb spasticity in cerebral palsy. Hand Clin 19:591–600
Corry IS, Cosgrove AP, Walsh EG, McClean D, Graham HK (1997) Botulinum toxin A in the hemiplegic upper limb: a double-blind trial. Dev Med Child Neurol 39:185–193
Deshpande S, Gormley ME, Carey JR (2006) Muscle fiber orientation in muscles commonly injected with botulinum toxin: an anatomical pilot study. Neurotox Res 9:115–120
Esquenazi A, Mayer N, Garreta R (2008) Influence of botulinum toxin type A treatment of elbow flexor spasticity on hemiparetic gait. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 87:305–310
Hurvitz EA, Conti GE, Brown SH (2003) Changes in movement characteristics of the spastic upper extremity after botulinum toxin injection. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 84:444–454
Im S, Han SH, Choi JH, Lee JH, Ko YJ, Lee JI, Kim HW (2008) Anatomic localization of motor points for the neuromuscular blockade of hand intrinsic muscles involved in thumb-in-palm. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 87:703–709
Kawamura A, Campbell K, Lam-Damji S, Fehlings D (2007) A randomized controlled trial comparing botulinum toxin A dosage in the upper extremity of children with spasticity. Dev Med Child Neurol 49:331–337
Keenan MA, Tomas ES, Stone L, Gersten LM (1990) Percutaneous phenol block of the musculocutaneous nerve to control elbow flexor spasticity. J Hand Surg [Am] 15:340–346
Kong KH, Chua KS (1999) Neurolysis of the musculocutaneous nerve with alcohol to treat poststroke elbow flexor spasticity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 80:1234–1236
Kosugi K, Shibata S, Yamashita H (1992) Supernumerary head of biceps brachii and branching pattern of the musculocutaneous nerve in Japanese. Surg Radiol Anat 14:175–185
Leonello DT, Galley IJ, Bain GI, Carter CD (2007) Brachialis muscle anatomy. A study in cadavers. J Bone Joint Surg Am 89:1293–1297
Lepage D, Parratte B, Tatu L, Vuiller F, Monnier G (2005) Extra- and intramuscular nerve supply of the muscles of the anterior antebrachial compartment: applications for selective neurotomy and for botulinum toxin injection. Surg Radiol Anat 27:420–430
Lowe K, Novak I, Cusick A (2007) Repeat injection of botulinum toxin A is safe and effective for upper limb movement and function in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 49:823–829
Mahakkanukrauh P, Somsarp V (2002) Dual innervation of the brachialis muscle. Clin Anat 15:206–209
Mayer NH, Whyte J, Wannstedt G, Ellis CA (2008) Comparative impact of 2 botulinum toxin injection techniques for elbow flexor hypertonia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 89:982–987
Pacha Vicente D, Forcada Calvet P, Carrera Burgaya A, Llusa Perez M (2005) Innervation of biceps brachii and brachialis: anatomical and surgical approach. Clin Anat 18:186–194
Park BK, Shin YB, Ko HY, Park JH, Baek SY (2007) Anatomic motor point localization of the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles. J Korean Med Sci 22:459–462
Parratte B, Tatu L, Vuillier F, Diop M, Monnier G (2002) Intramuscular distribution of nerves in the human triceps surae muscle: anatomical bases for treatment of spastic drop foot with botulinum toxin. Surg Radiol Anat 24:91–96
Shaari CM, Sanders I (1993) Quantifying how location and dose of botulinum toxin injections affect muscle paralysis. Muscle Nerve 16:964–969
Yang TF, Fu CP, Kao NT, Chan RC, Chen SJ (2003) Effect of botulinum toxin type A on cerebral palsy with upper limb spasticity. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 82:284–289
Yang ZX, Pho RW, Kour AK, Pereira BP (1995) The musculocutaneous nerve and its branches to the biceps and brachialis muscles. J Hand Surg [Am] 20:671–675
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, JH., Kim, HW., Im, S. et al. Localization of motor entry points and terminal intramuscular nerve endings of the musculocutaneous nerve to biceps and brachialis muscles. Surg Radiol Anat 32, 213–220 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0561-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0561-4