Thoracodorsal nerve

The thoracodorsal nerve is a nerve present in humans and other animals, also known as the middle subscapular nerve or the long subscapular nerve. It supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.

Thoracodorsal nerve
Plan of brachial plexus. (Label for thoracodorsal nerve at bottom center.)
Latissimus dorsi
Details
From	posterior cord (C6-C8)
Innervates	Latissimus dorsi muscle
Identifiers
Latin	nervus thoracodorsalis
TA	A14.2.03.016
FMA	65290
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

It arises from the brachial plexus. It derives its fibers from the sixth, seventh, and eighth cervical nerves. It is derived from their ventral rami, in spite of the fact that the latissimus dorsi is found in the back. The thoracodorsal nerve is a branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, and is made up of fibres from the posterior divisions of all three trunks of the brachial plexus.

It follows the course of the subscapular artery, along the posterior wall of the axilla to the Latissimus dorsi, in which it may be traced as far as the lower border of the muscle. It supplies latissimus dorsi on its deep surface.

The latissimus dorsi is occasionally used for transplantation, and for augmentation of systole in cardiac failure. In these cases, the nerve supply is preserved.