The bane of all students who take anatomy seems to be the same: the brachial plexus. But never fear! I I found a link online that you can follow here that makes learning the brachial plexus incredibly simple. I drew out the steps themselves to show the process in color. Furthermore, I corrected a few mistakes within the presentation. Let us begin!

Step 1: Start by drawing two y shaped lines in the same direction. Feel free to draw them in either direction as it will make it easier to learn if you can draw it both ways. 

Step 2: Draw another Y shaped line in the opposite direction. 

Step 3: Draw an M connecting your initial two Y’s. This will also be an important point of reference when looking at the cadaver. 

Step 4: Draw an X and a dash

Step 5: Label the nerves roots (C5-T1)

Step 6: Label your nerve branches. Key is as follows: 

Mc: Musculocutaneous

Ax: Axillary 

R: Radial

M: Median

U: Ulnar

Some people like to remember the mnemonic MARMU for the brachial plexus branches 

Step 7: The rest of the brachial plexus can be split up into four groups of 3. Our first 3 would be the branches to C5, C6, and C7 that form the lateral thoracic nerve (LTN)

Step 8: The next three to be added are the following: 

DSN: Dorsal scapular nerve

SS: Suprascapular nerve

LP: Lateral pectoral nerve

Step 9: The next three nerves to be added are the: 

SS: Subscapular nerve

TD: Thoracodorsal nerve

SS: Subscapular nerve

Step 10: The last three to be added are: 

MP: Medial Pectoral Nerve

MBC: Medial Brachial Cutaneous Nerve

MABC: Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve

Step 11: Last nerve to be added is the Subscapular nerve

Step 12: The last step is to label your roots, trunks, divisions, cords, and branches, which I separated with a faint gray line. At this time, you’ll want to label your upper, middle, and lower trunks, the anterior and posterior divisions, and your lateral, medial and posterior cords. Some people like to remember the order from roots to branches with the mnemonic: Real Truckers Drink Cold Beer.