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Case Reports
. 2024 Jun;46(6):825-828.
doi: 10.1007/s00276-024-03341-w. Epub 2024 Apr 10.

Rare case of divided phrenic nerve variation: a cadaveric case report

Olivia C Silveri  1 , Gabriella Dunemann  2 , Christian Woo  2 , Jacob Gutman  2 , Joseph Palazzi  2 , Jason Canestrino  2 , Benita Luke  2 , Jonathan A Millard  2 , Michael Breiner  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Rare case of divided phrenic nerve variation: a cadaveric case report

Olivia C Silveri et al. Surg Radiol Anat. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

The phrenic nerve innervates the respiratory diaphragm, the primary muscle active during ventilation. The canonical path of the phrenic nerve originates from the cervical spine at C3-C5 spinal nerves and travels inferiorly through the neck and thoracic cavity to reach the diaphragm. During a cadaver dissection, a variation of the phrenic nerve was discovered in a 93-year-old male specimen. A traditional origin of the phrenic nerve was noted; however, the nerve branched into medial and lateral components at the level of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. The branches reconnected at the apex of the aortic arch and continued inferiorly to innervate the ipsilateral diaphragm. This case study describes a rare type of branching of the phrenic nerve and explores its potential impact on clinical procedures.

Keywords: Anatomical variation; Brachial plexus; Neck anatomy; Phrenic nerve branching; Unilateral diaphragm paralysis.

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