The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm is a sensory nerve that is a continuation of the musculocutaneous nerve.
It supplies sensory innervation to the skin of the lateral forearm.
Course
The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm arises as a continuation of the musculocutaneous nerve within the roof of the cubital fossa.
It passes along the lateral border of the biceps brachii tendon and deep to the cephalic vein. It then divides into anterior and posterior branches:
- Anterior branch – descends down the anterolateral aspect of the forearm to the wrist, where it is situated anterior to the radial artery. It supplies branches to the skin of the anterolateral forearm. At the base of the thenar eminence, the nerve terminates as several small branches.
- Dorsal branch – descends down the posterolateral aspect of the forearm to the wrist. It supplies cutaneous innervation to a small area of the posterolateral forearm.
Adobe Stock, Licensed to TeachMeSeries Ltd
Fig 2 – The course of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm
Sensory Function
The lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm supplies cutaneous innervation to the skin of the lateral forearm.
By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2024)
Fig 2 – Cutaneous innervation of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm.
