Anatomical study of the peripheral nerves to the human sternoclavicular joint

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19894
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Himeji Dokkyo University
• Principal Investigator: EMURA Kenji 姫路獨協大学, 医療保健学部, 准教授 (10514060)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 胸鎖関節 / 内側鎖骨上神経 / 外側胸筋神経 / 支配神経 / 末梢神経 / 鎖骨下筋神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The sternoclavicular joint is the basilar joint for motion of the pectoral girdle. Therefore, proprioception of the sternoclavicular joint seems an important factor for motor control of the pectoral girdle, in particular scapula. Although the innervation of the sternoclavicular joint is important in relation with its proprioception, description for the innervation of the sternoclavicular joint is not consistent among anatomical textbooks and not clear. We reveal that the branch from the medial supraclavicular nerve reached the anterior aspect of the sternoclavicular joint. We also revealed that nerve branch from a part of the lateral pectoral nerve which innervates the clavicular head of the pectoralis major went medially beneath the clavicle and reached the sternoclavicular joint in several cases. The innervation of sternoclavicular joint by the subclavian nerve, which is described in some textbooks, was not observed in our study.

Free Research Field

人体解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで胸鎖関節の支配神経については、スタンダードな解剖学のテキストの間でも記載が異なり、統一した見解が得られていなかった。また、どのような経路を通って支配神経が胸鎖関節に達するかという知見もほとんどなかった。今回の研究で我々は、内側鎖骨上神経の枝が胸鎖関節に達すること、また外側胸筋神経の一部から分かれた神経枝も胸鎖関節に達する場合があることを明らかにし、それぞれの神経の具体的経路も明らかにした。これにより、どのような外傷や手術の際にこれらの胸鎖関節の支配神経を損傷するリスクがあるかを考察する基盤となる解剖学的知見を提供できたと考える。