Axillary Nerve

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Axillary nerve roots: C5 & C6¹

Motor Innervation

Table 1: Axillary Nerve Muscle Innervations

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Anterior deltoid	Lateral third of clavicle	Deltoid tuberosity of humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: Flexion, IR, Adduction
Lateral deltoid	Acromion	Deltoid tuberosity of humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: Abduction
Posterior deltoid	Scapular spine	Deltoid tuberosity of humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: Extension, ER, Abduction
Teres minor		Greater tubercle of Humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: ER, Weak adduction

Sensory innervation

Dysfunction

• Fractures at the Surgical Neck most commonly cause Axillary Nerve damage².

References

1.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.

2.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.