nervegrener

Nervegrener, or nerve branches, are the smaller divisions that emanate from a nerve trunk to innervate specific tissues or regions. In the peripheral nervous system, a nerve often divides into several branches that carry motor and sensory fibers, and sometimes autonomic fibers, to their target structures.

Branches can be categorized by their targets: muscular branches supply skeletal muscles; cutaneous branches provide sensory input from the skin; articular branches accompany joints; autonomic branches regulate glands and blood vessels. Some nerves form plexuses from the anterior rami of spinal nerves, such as the cervical, brachial, and lumbosacral plexuses, while other nerves split directly into named branches that continue to supply defined areas.

The pattern of branching is variable among individuals but follows general anatomical principles, and the distribution of branches helps determine clinical signs when a nerve is injured or compressed. Understanding nervegrener is important in fields such as anesthesia, radiology, and reconstructive surgery, where selective blockade or repair of specific branches may be required.

Illustrative examples include branches of the facial nerve—temporal, zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, and cervical—and the divisions and branches of the radial, median, and ulnar nerves in the arm, as well as the femoral nerve and its saphenous branch in the leg. Such branching patterns enable targeted innervation while providing some redundancy.