The axillary nerve supplies the deltoid and teres minor muscles and runs close to the shoulder joint. Damage to this nerve usually occurs as a complication of dislocation or fracture of the upper part of the humerus. The symptoms include radiating pain and impaired sensation over the lateral aspect of the upper arm, along with weakness (due to paralysis of the deltoid muscle) when the arm is abducted. Since the course of the axillary nerve wraps around the upper part of the humerus close to the bone, a hard blow to this area can sometimes injure it. However, the symptoms are usually transitory.
↧