The subclavian nerve, also known as the nerve to the subclavius, is small branch of the

upper trunk 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 tru ...

of the

brachial plexus The brachial plexus is a network () of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve ( C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the spinal cord, through the cervicoaxillary canal in t ...

. It contains axons from C5 and C6. The subclavian nerve innervates the

subclavius muscle The subclavius is a small triangular muscle, placed between the clavicle and the first rib. Along with the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles, the subclavius muscle makes up the anterior axioappendicular muscles, also known as anterior ...

Structure

The subclavian nerve is a branch of the

of the

. It contains axons derived from the

ventral rami The ventral ramus (pl. ''rami'') (Latin for ''branch'') is the anterior division of a spinal nerve. The ventral rami supply the antero-lateral parts of the trunk and the limbs. They are mainly larger than the dorsal rami. Shortly after a spinal ...

of the C5 and C6 cervical

spinal nerves A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the ...

Variation

The subclavian nerve can variably give rise to a branch which innervates the diaphragm called the accessory phrenic nerve. The accessory phrenic nerve may rather branch from the C4 or C6 segments or

ansa cervicalis The ansa cervicalis (or ansa hypoglossi in older literature) is a loop of nerves that are part of the cervical plexus. It lies superficial to the internal jugular vein in the carotid triangle. Its name means "handle of the neck" in Latin. Bran ...

. This nerve usually joins with the phrenic nerve before innervating the diaphragm, ventral to the subclavian vein.

Function

The subclavian nerve innervates the

Additional images

File:Brachial plexus.svg, Diagram of the brachial plexus. The subclavian nerve can be seen branching from where C5 and C6 join to form the upper trunk. (Label at top right). File:Gray809.png, The right brachial plexus. The subclavian nerve is not visible, but the muscle it innervates called the subclavius can be seen underneath the clavicle.

References

Nerves of the upper limb {{Neuroanatomy-stub