Shoulder position influences the location of the musculocutaneous nerve in the axillary fossa

Abstract In the axillary fossa, the musculocutaneous nerve (MC) is generally distant from the axillary artery and from the other brachial plexus nerves. In that way, MC requires a specific block. We observed that the location of MC is influenced by the position of the patient's arm and shoulder. Abduction of the shoulder significantly reduced the distance between the MC and the axillary artery. This change in the location of the MC is probably due to the moving of the nerve because of muscle rearrangements and the ability to achieve better proximity of the probe in the axillary fossae.