Anterior rami

Anterior ramus
The formation of the spinal nerve from the posterior and anterior roots. (Anterior ramus labeled at lower left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	ramus anterior nervi spinalis
TA	A14.2.00.034
FMA	5982
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy []

The anterior ramus (pl. rami) (Latin for branch) (ventral ramus), is the anterior division of a spinal nerve. The anterior rami supply the antero-lateral parts of the trunk and the limbs. They are mainly larger than the posterior rami.

Shortly after a spinal nerve exits the intervertebral foramen, it branches into the dorsal ramus, ventral ramus, and rami communicantes. Each of these latter three structures carries both sensory and motor information. Because each spinal nerve carries both sensory and motor information, spinal nerves are referred to as “mixed nerves.”

In the thoracic region they remain distinct from each other and each a narrow strip of muscle and skin along the sides, chest, ribs, and abdominal wall. These rami are called the intercostal nerves. In regions other than the thoracic, anterior rami converge with each other to form networks of nerves called nerve plexuses. Within each plexus, fibers from the various anterior rami branch and become redistributed so that each nerve exiting the plexus has fibers from several different spinal nerves. One advantage to having plexuses is that damage to a single spinal nerve will not completely paralyze a limb.

There are four main plexuses formed by the anterior rami: the cervical plexus contains anterior rami from spinal nerves C1-C4. Branches of the cervical plexus, which include the phrenic nerve, innervate muscles of the neck, the diaphragm, and the skin of the neck and upper chest. The brachial plexus contains anterior rami from spinal nerves C5-T1. This plexus innervates the pectoral girdle and upper limb. The lumbar plexus contains anterior rami from spinal nerves L1-L4. The sacral plexus contains anterior rami from spinal nerves L4-S4. The lumbar and sacral plexuses innervate the pelvic girdle and lower limbs.