Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 14, 2026

Upper trunk

The upper (superior) trunk is part of the brachial plexus. It is formed by joining of the ventral rami of the fifth (C5) and sixth (C6) cervical nerves. The upper trunk divides into an anterior and posterior division.

Last revised
Jun 14, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
130 w
Citations
Source
Upper trunk
Details
FromVentral rami of C5 and C6
ToAnterior division of upper trunk, posterior division of upper trunk, subclavian nerve, suprascapular nerve
Identifiers
Latintruncus superior plexus brachialis
TA98A14.2.03.004
TA26398
FMA65216
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The upper (superior) trunk is part of the brachial plexus. It is formed by joining of the ventral rami of the fifth (C5) and sixth (C6) cervical nerves. The upper trunk divides into an anterior and posterior division.

The branches of the upper trunk from proximal to distal are:

The axillary, radial, musculocutaneous and median nerves all contain axons derived from the upper trunk.

Additional images