Peripheral Nerve Disorders and Management Vocabulary

Continuous Tissue Tract

Concept describing the nervous system as a continuous system designed for movement and conducting impulses while withstanding mechanical forces.

Slide and Glide

The movement mechanism of nerves relative to adjacent tissue, occurring both longitudinally and transversely to dissipate tension and prevent neural ischemia.

Perineurium

Connective tissue layer of a nerve that absorbs tensile forces before the nerve itself stretches, enduring 18\text{\normalfont{\%}} to 22\text{\normalfont{\%}} strain before failure.

Interscalene Triangle

A primary site of thoracic outlet vulnerability located between the anterior and middle scalene muscles and the first rib.

Costoclavicular Space

A thoracic outlet vulnerability site located between the clavicle, subclavius muscle, costocoracoid ligament, and the first rib.

Retropectoralis Minor Space

A thoracic outlet vulnerability site located inferior to the coracoid process, anterior to ribs 2-4, and posterior to the pectoralis minor.

Erb's Palsy

An upper brachial plexus injury (C5, C6) affecting shoulder abduction and lateral rotation, as well as elbow flexion and supination.

Klumpke's Paralysis

Paralysis resulting from an injury to the lower brachial plexus (C8, T1).

Axillary Nerve

Nerve (C5, C6) vulnerable with shoulder dislocation and humeral surgical neck fractures, resulting in impaired shoulder abduction and lateral rotation.

Musculocutaneous Nerve

Nerve (C5, C6) whose injury affects elbow flexion when the forearm is supinated.

Median Nerve

Nerve (C6-8) vulnerable in the pronator teres region and carpal tunnel, supplying key sensory and motor functions in the hand.

Ulnar Nerve

Nerve (C8, T1) susceptible to compression at the cubital tunnel in the elbow and the Tunnel of Guyon in the wrist.

Radial Nerve

Nerve (C6-8, T1) vulnerable with shoulder dislocations, midshaft humeral fractures, and radial tunnel syndrome; proximal injury causes wrist drop.

Femoral Nerve

Nerve (L2-4) vulnerable during upper femur or pelvis fractures, hip dislocation reduction, or forceps delivery, leading to hip flexion weakness and loss of knee extension.

Obturator Nerve

Nerve (L2-4) vulnerable to uterine pressure during labor, causing impairment in thigh adduction and external rotation.

Sciatic Nerve

The largest nerve in the body (L4-S3), vulnerable to piriformis syndrome, hip dislocations, or reductions.

Common Fibular Nerve

Nerve (L4-S2) vulnerable around the fibular neck; injury to its superficial branch affects eversion while its deep branch injury results in foot drop.

Neuropraxia

Seddon classification for segmental demyelination with slowed or blocked action potentials, temporary sensory symptoms, no muscle atrophy, and full recovery.

Axonotmesis

Seddon classification for loss of axonal continuity with intact connective tissue, causing Wallerian degeneration distally, muscle atrophy, sensory