Lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm

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The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm is the cutaneous division of the musculocutaneous nerve.

Summary

  • location: arm and forearm
  • origin: musculocutaneous nerve (C5-7)
  • branches: recurrent branch of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm
  • supply: skin of the anterolateral surface of the forearm

Gross anatomy

Origin

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm arises from the musculocutaneous nerve in the distal arm.

Course

It courses distally between biceps brachii and brachialis, going from medial to lateral. It passes through the roof of the cubital fossa lateral to the tendon of the biceps brachii and deep to the cephalic vein. It then descends along to radial border of the forearm to the wrist, where it is anterior to the radial artery.

Branches
  • recurrent branch of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm: extends proximally along the cephalic vein up to the middle third of the arm supplying skin over the distal third of the anterolateral surface of the arm
Supply
  • skin of the anterolateral surface of the forearm and distal arm