Serratus anterior muscle (C5, C6 and C7, long thoracic nerve)
- The patient should stand with the arms stretched out and hands making contact with the wall.
The hands should be placed at approximately shoulder height. - Assess whether the scapulae remain against the thoracic wall [Figure 41].
Figure 41
Deltoid muscle (C4, C5 and C6, axillary nerve)
- The patient should extend their arms out to the side and try to maintain that position.
- Try to push both arms down [Figure 42].
Figure 42
Biceps brachii muscle (C5 and C6, musculocutaneous nerve)
- The patient flexes the arm maximally at the elbow, with the forearm in supination.
- Try to extend the arm [Figure 43].
Figure 43
Triceps brachii muscle (C7 and C8, radial nerve)
- The patient extends the arm maximally at the elbow.
- Try to flex the arm [Figure 44].
Figure 44
Extensor muscles of the wrist (C6 and C7, radial nerve)
- The patient should keep the wrist in extension with pronation of the forearm.
- Try to flex the wrists [Figure 45].
Figure 45
Flexor muscles of the wrist (C7, C8 and Th1, median nerve)
- Ask the patient to lay their forearm on the table in supination, and then to make a fist and flex the wrist.
- Try to extend the wrist [Figure 46].
Figure 46
Flexor muscles of the fingers (C7, C8 and Th1, median nerve)
- Ask the patient to squeeze your outstretched index and middle finger as hard as possible [Figure 47].
Figure 47
Extensor muscles of the fingers (C7, C8, radial nerve)
- Instruct the patient to extend their fingers. Try to flex the fingers at the metacarpophalangeal joint [Figure 48].
Figure 48
Opponens pollicis muscle (C6, C7, median nerve)
- Ask the patient to hold the tip of their thumb and the tip of their little finger together as tightly as possible.
- Using your finger, try to break the circled formed by the patient’s thumb and finger [Figure 49].
Figure 49
Interosseus muscles (C8, Th1, ulnar nerve)
Ask the patient to extend their fingers and spread them apart.
- Do the same and place your fingers between those of the patient.
- Ask the patient to close their fingers using as much force as possible [Figure 50].
- Carry this out on the left and right hand simultaneously to enable you to make a good comparison.
Figure 50