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Construction worker with laceration of Biceps Brachii

4K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  Hope2Pass 
#1 ·
A 32-year-old construction worker arrives in the emergency department after an accident on the job. The tendon of the biceps brachii at the elbow has been severed by a laceration that extends 2 cm medially from the tendon. Which of the following structures is likely to have been injured by medial extension of the laceration?

A. Brachial artery
B. Musculocutaneous nerve
C. Profunda brachii artery
D. Radial nerve
E. Ulnar nerve
 
#11 ·
The correct answer is A. The brachial artery is immediately medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii at the elbow. As the artery enters the forearm, it is covered by the bicipital aponeurosis, a broadening of the biceps tendon.

The musculocutaneous nerve (choice B) does not cross the elbow. The musculocutaneous nerve gives off all of its muscular branches to muscles in the arm. The remainder of the nerve is then renamed the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm, which passes the elbow lateral to the tendon of the biceps.

The profunda brachii artery (choice C) arises from the brachial artery in the proximal part of the arm. It accompanies the radial artery in the musculospiral groove and then divides into the radial collateral artery and middle collateral artery, which cross the elbow lateral to the tendon of the biceps.

The radial nerve (choice D) lies within the musculospiral groove along the back of the humerus, then passes between the brachioradialis muscle and the brachialis muscle at the elbow, lateral to the tendon of the biceps.

The ulnar nerve (choice E) crosses the elbow posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. It then passes between the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris and courses through the forearm deep to this muscle.
 
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