All or most of the nerves of interest to regional anesthesiologists or acute
pain physicians are mixed nerves with autonomic, sensory, motor, and proprioception
functions. Each function is conducted by a specific type of nerve axon. We have
provided an overview of these axons and their functions in Chapter 2 (Table 1 of
Chapter 2). For the purposes of this chapter, the authors focus on the sensory and motor
functions of each of the nerves. To create the video productions that accompany this
chapter, Mary Bryson painted the muscles and nerves on a model and we used
percutaneous nerve mapping as described by Bösenberg and his colleagues to illustrate
the motor function of each nerve (Movies 1 to 11). With the aid of a peripheral nerve
stimulator, the path of many superficial peripheral nerves can be “mapped” prior to skin
penetration by stimulating the motor component of the peripheral nerve percutaneously
with 1.5- to 2.5-mA current output.
Keywords: Accessory nerve, Acute pain medicine, Autonomic function, Axillary
nerve, Body painting, Brachial plexus cords, Brachial plexus roots, Brachial
plexus trunks, Dorsal scapular nerve, Long thoracic nerve, Median nerve, Mixed
nerves, Motor function, Musculocutaneous nerve, Nerve axon, Percutaneous
nerve mapping, Percutaneous nerve stimulation, Peripheral nerve stimulator,
Phrenic nerve, Proprioception function, Radial nerve, Regional anesthesia,
Sensory function, Suprascaplular nerve, Ulnar nerve.
