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# Nerve to subclavius

The nerve to subclavius is a thin branch of the [brachial plexus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/roots-of-brachial-plexus/) above the collarbone; it supplies the subclavius and often joins the phrenic nerve.

Official name: Subclavian nerve

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## What it is

A small nerve from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus (C5–C6) that runs down in front of the plexus and the subclavian artery.

## What it does

Supplies the subclavius muscle; often carries an accessory branch to the phrenic nerve.

## Key points

- Often gives the accessory phrenic nerve, which joins the phrenic nerve low in the neck or in the upper [chest](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/chest/) and adds fibres for the [diaphragm](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/diaphragm/)
- One of the four supraclavicular branches of the plexus: dorsal scapular and long thoracic (roots), suprascapular and nerve to subclavius (upper trunk)

## Key facts

**Roots**
C5–C6 via the upper trunk of the brachial plexus

**Moves**
Subclavius; often an accessory phrenic branch to the diaphragm

**Feeling from**
Sternoclavicular joint (small twigs)

## Relations

**Course**
Leaves the front of the upper trunk (or arises by separate twigs from C5 and C6), descends in front of the trunks and the third part of the [subclavian artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/right-subclavian-artery/), passes behind the [clavicle](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/clavicle/) and enters the [subclavius](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/subclavius/)

**Behind**
The [brachial plexus trunks](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-plexus-trunks/) and the third part of the subclavian artery

**In front**
The clavicle, with the subclavius in the groove on its underside

**Medial**
The [phrenic nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/phrenic-nerve/) on the anterior scalene, which its accessory phrenic branch, when present, crosses to join

## How to find it

Not palpable. In a supraclavicular exposure of the brachial plexus it is seen as a thread running down on the front of the upper trunk toward the clavicle; when an accessory phrenic branch is present it can be followed medially to the phrenic nerve.

## Common problems

- Its accessory phrenic branch can keep part of the diaphragm working when the phrenic nerve is injured.

## Clinical notes

- An accessory phrenic nerve from it explains why part of the hemidiaphragm can keep working after the phrenic nerve is cut or blocked in the neck above where the two join
- A landmark on the anterior surface of the upper trunk in supraclavicular plexus exploration; its loss alone causes no noticeable deficit
- Resection of subclavius in venous thoracic outlet decompression removes its only target muscle; any accessory phrenic branch is looked for and kept
- An accessory phrenic branch passing in front of the [subclavian vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/subclavian-veins/) can be injured during subclavian vein catheterisation, clavicle fracture fixation or supraclavicular surgery

## Anatomical variants

- The accessory phrenic nerve, frequently a branch of the nerve to subclavius, joins the phrenic nerve at a variable level, from the root of the neck to the [first rib](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/first-rib/)
- It may arise from the upper trunk, by separate twigs from C5 and C6, or from C5 alone; a C4 contribution is described in a prefixed plexus

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## From which part of the brachial plexus does the nerve to subclavius arise?

The upper trunk (C5–C6), above the clavicle; it is a supraclavicular branch of the plexus.

## Which nerve does the nerve to subclavius often send fibres to?

The phrenic nerve, through an accessory phrenic branch that adds fibres for the diaphragm.

## What are the supraclavicular branches of the brachial plexus?

Dorsal scapular and long thoracic nerves (from the roots), suprascapular nerve and nerve to subclavius (from the upper trunk).

## Why may part of the diaphragm keep working after a phrenic nerve injury in the neck?

An accessory phrenic nerve, often from the nerve to subclavius, joins the phrenic nerve below the level of injury.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Latin (TA2)**
nervus subclavius TA2 6412

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Nervio subclavio

**English (TA2)**
Subclavian nerve

## Related

- [Subclavius](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/subclavius/)
- [Plexus trunks](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-plexus-trunks/)

Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 55: Cintura escapular; Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 62: Nervios del miembro superior.

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/subclavian-nerve/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/subclavian-nerve/