Abstract
Purpose
Coracobrachialis (CBM) is a complex muscle with a wide range of variations in its morphology and innervation. The goal of this study was to elucidate the morphology, morphometry, gender differences of CBM and precise anatomical position of the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) with reference to surrounding anatomical landmarks in an adult Sri Lankan population.
Method
Cadaveric upper limbs (n = 312) were examined for the proximal and distal attachments, length, width, thickness of CBM and its relationship with the MCN.
Results
The CBM originated from the tip of the coracoid process of the scapula and lateral, posterior and medial aspects of the tendon of short head of biceps brachii. Gender differences were observed in all morphometrical parameters of CBM. In 83.33 %, MCN perforated the CBM. In 50 % the MCN pierced the middle one-third of CBM while none pierced the lower one-third. The distance from the coracoid process to the point of entry of MCN into CBM (distance P) was 50.62 mm. A positive correlation was observed between the arm length and distance P indicating that arm length provides an accurate and reliable means of gauging the distance P of an individual.
Conclusion
The present study provides new evidence pertaining to the origin of CBM. Further, it was revealed that the predicted distance P of any upper extremity can be calculated by dividing the arm length by 5. Precise anatomical location of MCN in relation to CBM using unequivocal and well-defined anatomical landmarks will be imperative in modern surgical procedures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bach BR, O’Brien SJ, Warren RF, Leighton M (1988) An unusual neurological complication of the Bristow procedure: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 70:458–460
Bassett RW, Browne AO, Morrey BF (1990) Glenohumeral muscle force and moment mechanics in a position of shoulder instability. J Biomech 23:405–415
Bassmajian J (1989) Grants method of anatomy, 11th edn. Williams & Wilkins, Baltiomore
Böhnel P (1979) Variant of the coracobrachialis muscle. Handchirurgie 11:119–120
Clavert P, Lutz JC, Wolfram-Gabel R et al (2009) Relationship of musculocutaneous nerve and the coracobrachialis during coracoids abutment procedure (Latarjet procedure). Surg Radiol Anat 31:49–53
Eglseder WA, Goldman M (1997) Anatomic variations of the musculocutaneous nerve in the arm. Am J Orthop 26:777–780
El-Naggar MM (2001) A study on the morphology of the coracobrachialis muscle and its relationship with the musculocutaneous nerve. Folia Morphol 60:217–224
Flatow EL, Bigliani LU, April EW (1989) An anatomic study of the musculocutaneous nerve and its relationship to the coracoid process. Clin Orthop 244:166–171
Guha R, Satyanarayana N, Reddy CK, Jayasri N, Nitin V, Praveen G et al (2010) Variant insertion of coracobrachialis muscle-morphological significance, embryological basis and clinical importance. J Coll Med Sci-Nepal 6:42–46
Gümüşalan Y, Yazar F, Ozan H (1998) Variant innervation of the cora-cobrachialis muscle and unusual course of the musculocutaneous nerve in man. Kaibogaku Zasshi 73:269–272
Hanson P, Peter MS, Sorensen H, Erik BS (1999) Anatomical differences in the psoas muscles in young black and white men. J Anat 194:303–307
Hobar PC, Rohrich RJ, Mickel TJ (1990) The coracobrachialis muscle flap for coverage of exposed axillary vessels: a salvage procedure. Plast Reconstr Surg 85:801–804
Klepps SJ, Goldfarb C, Flatow E, Galatz LM, Yamaguchi K (2001) Anatomic evaluation of the subcoracoid pectoralis major transfer in human cadavers. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 10:453–459
Koizumi M (1989) A morphological study on the coracobrachialis muscle. Kaibogaku Zasshi 64:18–35
Kopuz C, Icten N, Yildirim M (2003) A rare accessory coracobrachialis muscle: a review of the literature. Surg Radiol Anat 24:406–410
Liem K, Bemis W, Walker WF, Grande L (2000) Function anatomy of the vertebrates: an evolutionary perspective. 3rd edn. Brooks/Cole, Boston
Loukas M, Aqueelah H (2005) Musculocutaneous and median nerve connections within, proximal and distal to the coracobrachialis muscle. Folia Morphol 64:101–108
Maughan RJ, Watson JS, Weir J (1984) Muscle strength and cross-sectional area in man: a comparison of strength-trained and untrained subjects. Br J Sports Med 18:149–157
Nakatani T, Mizukami S, Tanaka S (1997) Three cases of the musculocutaneous nerve not perforating the coracobrachialis muscle. Kaibogaku Zasshi 72:191–194
Ozturk A, Bayraktar B, Taskara N, Kale AC, Kutlu C, Cecen A (2005) Morphometric study of the nerves entering into the coracobrachialis muscle. Surg Radiol Anat 27:308–311
Parry SW, Ward JW, Mathes SJ (1988) Vascular anatomy of the upper extremity muscles. Plast Reconstr Surg 81:358–365
Ray B, Rai AL, Roy TS (2004) Unusual insertion of the coracobrachialis muscle to the brachial fascia associated with high division of brachial artery. Clin Anat 17:672–676
Rebouças F, Filho RB, Filardis C, Pereira RR, Cardoso AA (2010) Anatomical study of the musculocutaneous nerve in relation to the coracoid process. Rev Bras Orthop 45:400–403
Remerand F, Laulan J, Couvret C et al (2010) Is the musculocutaneous nerve really in the coracobrachialis muscle when performing an axillary block? An ultrasound study. Anesth Analg 110:1729–1734
Romanes GJ (1986) Cunningham’s textbook of anatomy, 15th Edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Sinnathamby CS (1999) Last’s anatomy regional and applied, 10th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
Struthers J (1854) On some points in the abnormal anatomy of the arm. Br Foreign Med Chir Rev 14:170–179
Taylor GI, Cichowitz A, Ang SG, Seneviratne S, Ashton M (2003) Comparative anatomical study of the gracilis and coracobrachialis muscles: implications for facial reanimation. Plast Reconstr Surg 112:20–30
Venieratos D, Anagnostopoulou S (1998) Classification of communications between the musculocutaneous and median nerves. Clin Anat 11:327–331
Williams PL, Bannister LH, Berry MM, Collins P, Dyson M, Dussek JE (2000) Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of medicine and surgery, 38th edn. Churchill Livingstone, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ilayperuma, I., Nanayakkara, B.G., Hasan, R. et al. Coracobrachialis muscle: morphology, morphometry and gender differences. Surg Radiol Anat 38, 335–340 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1564-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1564-y