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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Human Anatomy & Medicine

Test Your Knowledge with the Brachial Plexus Quiz

Think you can ace the brachial plexus labeling quiz? Dive in now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art anatomical brachial plexus nerves branching into arm on dark blue background

Are you ready to challenge your anatomy expertise with our brachial plexus quiz? This fun and free brachial plexus game will push your neuroanatomy skills to the limit as you tackle labeling and brachial plexus fill in the blank questions, pinpointing each root, trunk, division, cord, and branch. Whether you're reviewing for exams or simply love exploring the nervous system, this brachial plexus labeling quiz offers the perfect way to engage. Dive deeper into nerve pathways with our interactive nerve plexus exercise , then don't wait - take the brachial plexus quiz now and boost your confidence!

How many ventral rami (roots) form the brachial plexus?
Four
Six
Five
Three
The brachial plexus is formed by the ventral rami of spinal nerves C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1, making a total of five roots. These roots combine to form trunks, divisions, and cords before giving rise to the terminal branches that innervate the upper limb. Understanding the root composition is fundamental in clinical correlation and surgical approaches. source
Which spinal nerve roots contribute to the brachial plexus?
C4 - T1
C5 - T5
C5 - T1
C6 - T1
The brachial plexus arises from the ventral rami of C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1 spinal nerves. These roots combine to form three trunks, which then divide and rejoin to form cords and terminal branches that innervate the upper limb. Variations like prefixed or postfixed plexuses can include C4 or T2 contributions but the classic formation is C5 - T1. source
The upper trunk of the brachial plexus is formed by the union of which roots?
C7 and C8
C5 and C6
C4 and C5
C6 and C7
The upper (superior) trunk is formed by the union of the C5 and C6 roots of the brachial plexus. This trunk then divides into anterior and posterior divisions that contribute to different cords. Knowledge of trunk formation is critical when diagnosing nerve injuries such as Erb's palsy. source
The middle trunk of the brachial plexus is a continuation of which spinal nerve root?
C6
C8
T1
C7
The middle (middle) trunk is a direct continuation of the C7 root. Unlike the superior and inferior trunks, it is not formed by the union of two roots but remains a single root passage. This simple anatomy is useful when interpreting imaging or clinical examination findings. source
Which roots form the lower trunk of the brachial plexus?
C8 and T1
C6 and C7
C5 and C6
C7 and C8
The lower (inferior) trunk of the brachial plexus is formed by the union of the C8 and T1 roots. This trunk contributes to the anterior and posterior divisions that go on to form cords. Injury to these roots often presents as Klumpke's palsy affecting intrinsic hand muscles. source
Each trunk of the brachial plexus divides into how many divisions?
One
Three
Two
Four
After forming the superior, middle, and inferior trunks, each trunk divides into an anterior and a posterior division. These divisions then reorganize to form the cords of the brachial plexus. Understanding divisions is key to tracing nerve pathways to terminal branches. source
Which cord of the brachial plexus lies lateral to the axillary artery?
Anterior cord
Medial cord
Lateral cord
Posterior cord
The cords of the brachial plexus are named based on their relationship to the axillary artery. The lateral cord lies lateral to the artery, the medial cord lies medial, and the posterior cord lies posterior. This anatomical relationship guides surgical approaches in the axilla. source
Which terminal branch arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus?
Radial nerve
Median nerve
Musculocutaneous nerve
Ulnar nerve
The posterior cord gives rise to two major terminal branches: the axillary nerve and the radial nerve. The radial nerve innervates the extensor compartments of the arm and forearm. Recognition of these branches is critical when assessing wrist drop or shoulder sensation deficits. source
Which nerve does NOT originate from the posterior cord?
Musculocutaneous nerve
Thoracodorsal nerve
Radial nerve
Axillary nerve
The posterior cord gives rise to the axillary, radial, upper and lower subscapular, and thoracodorsal nerves. The musculocutaneous nerve arises from the lateral cord. Differentiating cord origins helps localize plexus lesions. source
Which major nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus?
Axillary nerve
Musculocutaneous nerve
Ulnar nerve
Radial nerve
The lateral cord gives rise to the musculocutaneous nerve and contributes to the median nerve. It is formed from the anterior divisions of the upper and middle trunks. Injury to the lateral cord affects elbow flexion and forearm sensation. source
The dorsal scapular nerve branches off from which root of the brachial plexus?
C6
C7
T1
C5
The dorsal scapular nerve arises directly from the C5 root before it forms the upper trunk. It innervates the rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, and levator scapulae muscles. This nerve is tested when evaluating scapular retraction. source
The long thoracic nerve is formed by contributions from which roots?
C8 - T1
C5 - C7
C6 - T1
C3 - C5
The long thoracic nerve originates from the ventral rami of C5, C6, and C7. It innervates the serratus anterior muscle, which protracts and stabilizes the scapula. Injury leads to a winged scapula and difficulty lifting the arm overhead. source
Which nerve passes through the quadrangular space?
Suprascapular nerve
Axillary nerve
Radial nerve
Ulnar nerve
The quadrangular space is bounded by the teres minor, teres major, long head of triceps, and surgical neck of the humerus. The axillary nerve and the posterior circumflex humeral artery pass through this space. Lesions here can cause deltoid muscle weakness and loss of lateral shoulder sensation. source
The nerve to subclavius arises from which part of the brachial plexus?
Lateral cord
Posterior cord
Middle trunk
Upper trunk
The nerve to subclavius branches from the superior (upper) trunk of the brachial plexus before it divides into anterior and posterior divisions. It innervates the subclavius muscle, which helps stabilize the clavicle. This branch is often used as a landmark in plexus dissections. source
Erb-Duchenne palsy is associated with injury to which nerve roots?
C5 - C6
C6 - C7
C8 - T1
T1 - T2
Erb-Duchenne palsy involves injury to the upper roots (C5 and C6) of the brachial plexus, often due to excessive lateral neck traction. It presents with a characteristic "waiter's tip" posture due to loss of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion. Early recognition guides neurological and surgical management. source
The lateral cord contributes fibers to which of the following nerves?
Axillary nerve
Radial nerve
Median nerve
Ulnar nerve
The lateral cord gives fibers to the musculocutaneous nerve and also forms the lateral root of the median nerve. The medial cord contributes the medial root to the median nerve. This dual origin is important when tracing median nerve pathways. source
Which divisions of the brachial plexus form the posterior cord?
Posterior divisions of all three trunks
Posterior division of middle trunk only
Anterior division of lower trunk
Anterior divisions of upper and middle trunks
The posterior cord is formed by the fusion of the posterior divisions of the upper, middle, and lower trunks. It lies posterior to the axillary artery and gives rise to the axillary and radial nerves among others. Recognizing division contributions clarifies branch derivation. source
Which spinal dermatome is primarily tested at the thumb?
C8
C5
C6
C7
The C6 dermatome covers the thumb and lateral forearm. Testing sensation here helps localize nerve root lesions in radiculopathy. Differentiating adjacent dermatomes (C5 on lateral arm, C7 on middle finger) is key in neurological exams. source
The thoracodorsal nerve innervates which muscle?
Teres minor
Latissimus dorsi
Serratus anterior
Subscapularis
The thoracodorsal nerve, also known as the middle subscapular nerve, innervates the latissimus dorsi muscle. This muscle extends, adducts, and medially rotates the humerus. Injury leads to weakness in these motions, affecting activities like climbing. source
A winged scapula commonly results from injury to which nerve?
Long thoracic nerve
Spinal accessory nerve
Dorsal scapular nerve
Suprascapular nerve
Injury to the long thoracic nerve (C5 - C7) impairs serratus anterior function, causing the medial border of the scapula to protrude (wing). Spinal accessory nerve injury also causes winging but features trapezius weakness. Clinical tests differentiate these causes. source
Klumpke's palsy primarily affects which nerve roots?
C8 - T1
C7 - C8
C5 - C6
T1 - T2
Klumpke's palsy results from injury to the lower roots (C8 - T1) of the brachial plexus, often from traction on an abducted arm. It leads to intrinsic hand muscle paralysis and sensory loss in the medial arm and forearm. Recognizing this pattern guides nerve repair strategies. source
The radial nerve is a terminal branch of which cord?
Medial cord
Anterior cord
Lateral cord
Posterior cord
The radial nerve arises as a terminal branch of the posterior cord. It innervates the extensor compartments of the arm and forearm. Injury to this nerve causes wrist drop and sensory deficits over the dorsum of the hand. source
A prefixed brachial plexus includes an additional contribution from which spinal nerve root?
C3
C4
T2
T3
A prefixed brachial plexus has contributions from C4 to C8, with T1 often reduced or absent. This variation can alter anatomical landmarks and nerve injury presentations. Preoperative imaging should account for such plexus variants. source
The lateral root of the median nerve arises from which component of the brachial plexus?
Upper trunk
Lateral cord
Medial cord
Posterior cord
The median nerve is formed by the union of the lateral root from the lateral cord and the medial root from the medial cord. This dual origin is critical in understanding compression syndromes like pronator teres syndrome. source
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Brachial Plexus Components -

    Recognize the roots, trunks, divisions, cords, and branches of the brachial plexus to build a solid anatomical framework.

  2. Label Key Structures -

    Accurately pinpoint and name brachial plexus parts on diagrams through our brachial plexus labeling quiz, enhancing spatial understanding.

  3. Trace Nerve Pathways -

    Follow the course of each nerve from spinal segments to peripheral targets, clarifying motor and sensory innervation routes.

  4. Apply Fill-in-the-Blank Practice -

    Engage with brachial plexus fill in the blank challenges to reinforce nerve names and pathway recall in exam-style scenarios.

  5. Differentiate Functional Roles -

    Distinguish between motor and sensory branches of the plexus, understanding how each contributes to muscle control and skin sensation.

  6. Reinforce Clinical Relevance -

    Analyze common injury patterns in a brachial plexus game format, linking anatomical knowledge to real-world clinical cases.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Structural Organization Mnemonic -

    To master the brachial plexus quiz, begin by memorizing the sequence: Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches with the popular mnemonic "Real Therapists Drink Cold Beer." This mental framework streamlines the brachial plexus labeling quiz by giving you a clear path from C5 - T1 roots to the five terminal branches. Consistent review of this hierarchy anchors all subsequent detail in your mind.

  2. Roots and Trunks Mapping -

    Focus on identifying each spinal root (C5 - T1) and how they merge into upper, middle, and lower trunks; anatomical texts like Gray's Anatomy and university e-labs emphasize the scalene gaps as a landmark. When playing the brachial plexus game or doing a fill-in-the-blank drill, visualize or draw the roots passing between the anterior and middle scalene muscles. This spatial awareness reduces confusion when labeling diagrams in the brachial plexus labeling quiz.

  3. Divisions to Cords Transition -

    Each trunk splits into anterior and posterior divisions behind the clavicle; these recombine around the axillary artery to form the lateral, posterior, and medial cords named by relation to that vessel. Reviewing a simple diagram before each brachial plexus quiz reinforces which divisions feed into which cords and speeds up recall. Try tracing the paths on a model or app-based brachial plexus game for active learning.

  4. Terminal Branches and Innervation -

    Learn the five major nerves - musculocutaneous, axillary, radial, median, and ulnar - by associating each with key motor functions and sensory regions (e.g., radial nerve for wrist extension and dorsal hand sensation). A quick trick from medical school: map the "hand's motor-muscle test" for each nerve to clinical signs in the quiz. For sensory pathways, match dermatomal charts (University of Michigan resource) during your brachial plexus labeling quiz to solidify cutaneous innervation knowledge.

  5. Clinical Correlations and Quiz Applications -

    Link theoretical knowledge to conditions like Erb-Duchenne palsy (C5 - C6 injury) and Klumpke palsy (C8 - T1 injury) to answer fill-in-the-blank and scenario-based questions confidently. Practice by sketching lesion sites and predicting motor deficits in a brachial plexus game or quiz to reinforce pathways. Turning clinical cases into quick flashcard Q&A pairs makes your next brachial plexus fill in the blank challenge more approachable and memorable.

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