Upper limb

Coracobrachialis

Musculus coracobrachialis

Origin

Coracoid process of the scapula

Insertion

Medial side of the humeral shaft, at the level of the middle third

Function

Flexes and adducts the shoulder

Innervation

Musculocutaneous nerve, C5–C7

Movement & chain

Works together with pectoralis major and the short head of biceps brachii during flexion/adduction of the arm, for example when moving the arm forward and toward the body.

Palpation

Palpable in the medial wall of the axilla, medial to the short head of biceps, during resisted shoulder flexion with the arm in adduction.

Clinical

An isolated injury is rare; the muscle can be co-injured in an anterior shoulder dislocation or in traction injuries of the brachial plexus due to the close anatomical relationship.

Segmental innervation

The musculocutaneous nerve pierces the muscle, making it an anatomical landmark in approaches to the brachial plexus.

In clinical practice

The coracoid process, the origin of this muscle, is an easily palpable bony landmark used in an anterior approach to the shoulder and in infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks.

Region in the model

Upper limb