Upper trunk

Part of the human anatomy

Upper trunk
Details
From	ventral rami of C5 and C6
To	anterior division of upper trunk, posterior division of upper trunk, subclavian nerve, suprascapular nerve
Identifiers
Latin	truncus superior plexus brachialis
TA98	A14.2.03.004
TA2	6398
FMA	65216
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

The upper (superior) trunk is part of the brachial plexus. It is formed by joining of the ventral rami of the fifth (C5) and sixth (C6) cervical nerves. The upper trunk divides into an anterior and posterior division.

The branches of the upper trunk from proximal to distal are:

subclavian nerve (C5-C6)
suprascapular nerve (C5-C6)
anterior division of upper trunk (C5-C6, forms part of lateral cord)
posterior division of upper trunk (C5-C6, forms part of posterior cord)

The axillary, radial, musculocutaneous and median nerves all contain axons derived from the upper trunk.

Additional images

Brachial plexus.Deep dissection.
Brachial plexus.Deep dissection.Anterolateral view

Nerve supply of the human arm

Supraclavicular

root (dorsal scapular, long thoracic)
upper trunk (suprascapular, to the subclavius)

Infraclavicular

lateral cord	lateral pectoral ansa pectoralis musculocutaneous (lateral cutaneous of forearm) median/lateral root: anterior interosseous palmar recurrent common palmar digital (proper palmar digital)
medial cord	medial pectoral ansa pectoralis cutaneous: medial cutaneous of forearm medial cutaneous of arm ulnar: muscular palmar dorsal (dorsal digital nerves) superficial (common palmar digital, proper palmar digital) deep median/medial root: see above
posterior cord	subscapular (upper, lower) thoracodorsal axillary (superior lateral cutaneous of arm) radial: muscular cutaneous (posterior of arm, inferior lateral of arm, posterior of forearm) superficial (dorsal digital nerves) deep (posterior interosseous)