Coracobrachialis muscle
Deep muscles of the chest and front of the arm, with the boundaries of the axilla. Coracobrachialis is shown in blue.
Position of coracobrachialis muscle (shown in red)
Details
OriginCoracoid process of scapula
InsertionAnteromedial surface of humerus distal to crest of lesser tubercle
ArteryBrachial artery
NerveMusculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6, and C7)
Actionsadducts humerus, flexes the arm at glenohumeral joint
Identifiers
Latinmusculus coracobrachialis
TA98A04.6.02.017
TA22468
FMA37664
Anatomical terms of muscle

The coracobrachialis muscle is a muscle in the upper medial part of the arm. It is located within the anterior compartment of the arm. It originates from the coracoid process of the scapula; it inserts onto the middle of the medial aspect of the body of the humerus. It is innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve. It acts to adduct and flex the arm.

Structure

Origin

Coracobrachialis muscle arises from the (deep surface of the) apex of the coracoid process of the scapula (a common origin with the short head of the biceps brachii[1][2]). It additionally also arises from the proximal portion of tendon of origin of the biceps brachii muscle.[1]

Insertion

It is inserted (by means of a flat tendon[citation needed]) into an impression at the middle of the medial border of the body of the humerus (shaft of the humerus) between the attachments of the medial head of the triceps brachii and the brachialis.[1]

Innervation

Coracobrachialis muscle is perforated by and innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve, which arises from the anterior division of the upper trunk (C5, C6) and middle trunk (C7) of the brachial plexus.[3]

Variation

The coracobrachialis muscle has been classified into distinct superficial and deep layers.[4] In 16% of individuals the muscle is fully divided into these layers, in 8% of individuals there is incomplete separation, and in the 76% there is no discernible separation of the layers.[5]

Function

The coracobrachialis is functionally insignificant. It is a weak[2] flexor and adductor of the arm at the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint).[6][2]

It additionally also resists deviation of the arm from the frontal plane during abduction.[6]

Clinical significance

The overuse of the coracobrachialis can lead to stiffening of the muscle. Common causes of injury include chest workouts or activities that require one to press the arm very tight towards the body, e.g. work on the rings in gymnastics.[7]

Symptoms of overuse or injury are pain in the arm and shoulder, radiating down to the back of the hand. In more severe cases, the musculocutaneous nerve can get trapped, causing disturbances in sensation to the skin on the radial part of the forearm and weakened flexion of the elbow, as the nerve also supplies the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles.[8]

Rupture of the coracobrachialis muscle is extremely rare. Very few case reports exist in the literature, and it is reported to be caused by direct trauma to the contracted muscle. Avulsion of the muscle's origin from the coracoid as a result of indirect forces is even more unusual.[9]

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 443 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918).

  1. ^ a b c Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 913. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  3. ^ Spinner, Robert J. (2018-01-01), Morrey, Bernard F.; Sanchez-Sotelo, Joaquin; Morrey, Mark E. (eds.), "72 - Nerve Entrapment Syndromes", Morrey's the Elbow and its Disorders (Fifth Edition), Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp. 679–701, ISBN 978-0-323-34169-1, retrieved 2021-01-08
  4. ^ Tubbs, R. Shane; Shoja, Mohammadali M.; Loukas, Marios, eds. (2016-07-05). Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation (1 ed.). Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118430309. ISBN 978-1-118-43035-4.
  5. ^ Mori, Masaru (1964). "Statistics on the Musculature of the Japanese". Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica. 40 (3): 195–300. doi:10.2535/ofaj1936.40.3_195. PMID 14213705.
  6. ^ a b Saladin, Kenneth S. "The Muscular System." Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 346. Print.
  7. ^ "Coracobrachialis Muscle And Pain" paintopia.com
  8. ^ "Coracobrachialis Muscle." Anatomy, Function and Pathology. KenHub.
  9. ^ Iannotti, Joseph P. and Gerald R. Williams. Disorders of the Shoulder: Diagnosis & Management, Volume 1 Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2007. 271–73. Print.

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