Quick Facts
Origin: Second intercostal nerve.
Course: Pierces the chest wall anterior to serratus anterior muscle.
Branches: None.
Supply: Skin of overlying second intercostal space, medial arm and forearm.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The lateral cutaneous branch of the second intercostal nerve is also known as the intercostobrachial nerve.
Course
The intercostobrachial nerve crosses the axilla to enter the medial arm. Here it joins the medial brachial cutaneous nerve. It pierces the deep fascia of the arm to innervate the skin.
Branches
None.
Supplied Structures & Function
The intercostobrachial nerve conveys sensory innervation from the skin of the medial and posterior forearm and arm, skin of the axilla, and skin overlying the second intercostal space. Please refer to the Foerster’s dermatome map (Foerster, 1933, Standring, 2016).
References
Foerster, O. (1933) 'The Dermatomes in Man', Brain, 56(1), pp. 1-39.
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series: Elsevier Limited.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Intercostobrachial Nerve
The intercostobrachial nerve is a sensory nerve that runs through the axilla and innervates the skin of the axilla and upper medial aspect of the arm.
