How to Learn Brachial Plexus

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that start at the spine and incorporate all movement in the shoulder, arm and hand on each side of the body. The network is made up of the fifth through eighth cervical nerves, and the first thoracic nerve of the spinal column. Medical students must learn how to memorize this vital yet complex network of nerves.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Anatomy books
• Internet

Mnenomics

1. One of the most commonly found mnemonics on the web for learning the basic construction of the brachial plexus network is Randy Travis Drinks Cold Beers Robert Taylor Drinks Cold Beer. This mnemonic offers an easy-to-remember grouping of the basic Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches of the bundle of nerves. Branches of the brachial plexus also offers another mnemonic from the lateral to medial nerve locations in the not-so-nice but effective My Aunt Raped My Uncle, which stands for Musculocutaneous, Axillary, Radial, Median, Ulnar nerve locations. Of course, students may create their own mnemonics for these basic structures using patterns or fun clues that make memorization easier.

2. Access Internet resource materials such as the "Learn the Brachial Plexus in Five Minutes or Less" as offered by the American Medical Association or universities around the country.

3. Study anatomical illustrations and memorize the location and function of each branch of the brachial plexus network.

4. Test your knowledge of the brachial plexus construction and locations of nerves by taking practice quizzes.

5. Ask friends or family members to name specific nerves found within the brachial plexus network, while you answer or define the function and location of each nerve of the network.

References

• American Medical Association
• Functional Anatomy of the Brachial Plexus

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