Long thoracic nerve

Branches · detail · C5 C6 C7

Arises from the roots themselves and runs down the outside of the chest wall on serratus anterior — exposed, and easily cut in the axilla.

Traced from the start

  1. C5 nerve rootC6 nerve rootC7 nerve root
  2. Long thoracic nerve

Detail

Motor
Serratus anterior

When it goes wrong

Axillary dissection during mastectomy, or a blow to the chest wall

Medial winging of the scapula, most obvious when the patient pushes against a wall, with difficulty raising the arm above the head.

Practise this structure

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