Mnemonic for Brachial Plexus Nerves: Visual & Interactive List

After decades of teaching anatomy, I can tell you that the brachial plexus is a perennial challenge. Even in 2025, mastering its complex network of roots, trunks, divisions, cords, and branches is fundamental for exams and clinical practice. I’ve seen countless students’ eyes glaze over when this topic comes up. These effective visual and interactive mnemonics, drawn from established medical textbooks and anatomy labs, will help make these nerve pathways stick permanently in your brain. They combine visual anchoring, storytelling, and interactive practice to create multiple pathways for recall.

1. Map the Brachial Plexus Roots on Your Hand

Your hand is the perfect built-in tool for remembering the five spinal nerve roots that form the brachial plexus. For more details on why this works so well, check out the Anesthesia & Analgesia Hand Mnemonic Article:

• Thumb = C5
• Index finger = C6
• Middle finger = C7
• Ring finger = C8
• Pinky finger = T1

This simple technique uses your own body as a memory device. Next time you need to recall the roots, just look at your hand. For another concise root-subdivision mnemonic, see the Radiopaedia article on brachial plexus root subdivisions Radiopaedia Root Subdivisions Mnemonic.

2. Master the Main Segments with One Simple Phrase

Remember the major components of the brachial plexus in order with this sports-themed mnemonic:

“Rugby Teams Don’t Cover Bruises” (Rugby Teams Don’t Cover Bruises mnemonic video)

Each word represents a key anatomical segment:

• Roots (C5–T1)
• Trunks (upper, middle, lower)
• Divisions (anterior and posterior)
• Cords (lateral, medial, posterior)
• Branches (terminal nerves)

I’ve heard them all, but this sports-themed one seems to stick. Another classic is “Remember To Drink Cold Beer,” which works just as well, though I can’t officially endorse your study methods.

Detailed Formation of Trunks, Divisions, and Cords:

Structure	Components	Formation
Upper Trunk	C5–C6	Union of C5 and C6 roots
Middle Trunk	C7	Continuation of C7 root
Lower Trunk	C8–T1	Union of C8 and T1 roots
Anterior Divisions	All trunks	Each trunk divides into anterior and posterior divisions
Posterior Divisions	All trunks	Each trunk divides into anterior and posterior divisions
Lateral Cord	C5–C7	Anterior divisions of upper and middle trunks
Medial Cord	C8–T1	Anterior division of lower trunk
Posterior Cord	C5–T1	All three posterior divisions

3. Recall Terminal Nerves with a Drinking Reference

Now for the five major terminal branches. This next mnemonic is a bit crude, but you won’t forget it during an exam, and that’s what counts:

“Most Alcoholics Must Really Urinate”

It also handily preserves their lateral-to-medial order:

Nerve	Order (Lateral → Medial)	Motor Functions	Sensory Functions	Spinal Roots
Musculocutaneous	Most lateral	Biceps brachii, brachialis, coracobrachialis	Lateral forearm	C5–C7
Axillary	←	Deltoid, teres minor	Lateral shoulder (“regimental badge” area)	C5–C6
Median	←	Most forearm flexors, thenar muscles, lumbricals	Lateral palm, palmar aspect of lateral 3½ fingers	C5–T1
Radial	←	Triceps, anconeus, forearm extensors	Posterior arm/forearm, dorsum of lateral 3½ fingers	C5–T1
Ulnar	Most medial	Flexor carpi ulnaris, medial FDP, intrinsic hand muscles	Medial palm, medial 1½ fingers	C8–T1

Alternatively, check out Radiopaedia’s mnemonic for terminal branches Radiopaedia Terminal Branches Mnemonic to reinforce this order.

4. Lock In Cord Branches with Targeted Mini-Mnemonics

Now that you have the main highway mapped out, let’s look at the smaller roads. Each cord has its own set of branches that can be remembered with these focused phrases:

Lateral Cord

“Lucy Loves Me” 

• Lateral pectoral nerve
• Lateral root of median nerve
• Musculocutaneous nerve

Medial Cord

“Most Medical Men Use Morphine” 

• Medial pectoral nerve
• Medial cutaneous nerve of arm
• Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
• Ulnar nerve
• Medial root of median nerve

Posterior Cord

“ULTRA” 

• Upper subscapular nerve
• Lower subscapular nerve
• Thoracodorsal nerve
• Radial nerve
• Axillary nerve

For more in-depth cord branch mnemonics, check out the Mnemonics.co Brachial Plexus section.

5. Create Interactive Flashcards for Brachial Plexus Practice

Convert these mnemonics into a digital review system:

• Download a blank brachial plexus diagram
• Use Anki or Quizlet to create cards with the diagram on one side
• On the reverse, add labels and corresponding mnemonics
• Include color-coding for different segments
• Set up spaced repetition for optimal learning

6. Develop Color-Coded Brachial Plexus Diagrams

Assign specific colors to each major component:

• Roots: Blue
• Trunks: Green
• Divisions: Yellow
• Cords: Orange
• Branches: Red

Draw or print a large brachial plexus diagram and highlight each segment with its corresponding color. The visual differentiation helps your brain categorize and recall the structures more easily.

7. Animate the Plexus Path with a Mini-Story

Create a simple story that follows the path of a nerve impulse:

“Five friends (C5–T1) met at three bus stops (trunks). Each bus split into two routes (divisions) but later merged into three main highways (cords). From there, they took five different exits (terminal branches) to reach their destinations.”

Recording yourself explaining this story while drawing the plexus can create a powerful multi-sensory learning experience. For an animated explanation of this mnemonic, visit the Magnetic Memory Method Brachial Plexus Mnemonic.

8. Reinforce Memory with Spaced Repetition Quizzing

Set up a 5-minute daily quiz routine using spaced repetition apps:

• Monday: Identify roots and trunks
• Tuesday: Match divisions to trunks
• Wednesday: Name cord branches
• Thursday: Trace paths from roots to terminals
• Friday: Full plexus review

To see how spaced repetition works in practice, check out this Spaced Repetition Quiz Video. Spaced repetition is far more effective than cramming.

9. Compile All Mnemonics in One Reference Table

Section	Mnemonic	What It Helps You Remember
Main Segments	Rugby Teams Don’t Cover Bruises	Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches
Terminal Nerves	Most Alcoholics Must Really Urinate	Musculocutaneous, Axillary, Median, Radial, Ulnar
Lateral Cord	Lucy Loves Me	Lateral pectoral, Lateral root of median, Musculocutaneous
Medial Cord	Most Medical Men Use Morphine	Medial pectoral, Medial cutaneous (arm), Medial cutaneous (forearm), Ulnar, Medial root of median
Posterior Cord	ULTRA	Upper subscapular, Lower subscapular, Thoracodorsal, Radial, Axillary
Roots	Hand fingers (thumb to pinky)	C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
Root Contributions	Three Musketeers Assassinated 5 Rats, 5 Mice, and 2 Unicorns	Root contributions to major nerves

10. Apply Mnemonics in Practical Lab Settings

Take your mnemonics into anatomy lab:

• Label a cadaver or model with sticky notes using the first letters of your mnemonics
• Trace nerve pathways with your finger while reciting the relevant mnemonic
• Challenge lab partners to identify structures using your memory devices

For a clinical application: A patient presents with weakness in thumb opposition. Use your mnemonics to trace backwards from the affected muscle through the median nerve, to the lateral and medial cords, anterior divisions, and ultimately to C8–T1 roots.

Expert Sources on Brachial Plexus Memory Techniques

Anatomy instructors consistently highlight the effectiveness of multi-modal learning. Students who combine visual, verbal, and kinesthetic memory techniques tend to score higher on anatomy exams. For additional reference, the guides at TeachMeAnatomy brachial plexus page and the Kenhub Brachial Plexus article are excellent resources.

Furthermore, research published in Anesthesia & Analgesia confirms that the hand mnemonic provides both conceptual understanding and recall for nerve block procedures.

Practice Makes Permanent

These mnemonics work best when applied regularly across different contexts. Start with the basic structure (“Rugby Teams Don’t Cover Bruises”) and the terminal branch sequence (“Most Alcoholics Must Really Urinate”), then gradually incorporate the more specific cord branch mnemonics.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to memorize brachial plexus nerves?

Combine visual mnemonics (hand method for roots), verbal mnemonics (“Most Alcoholics Must Really Urinate” for terminal branches), and interactive techniques like color-coding diagrams and spaced repetition practice. For further reading, visit TeachMeAnatomy brachial plexus page.

2. How to remember to draw brachial plexus?

Start with the framework “Rugby Teams Don’t Cover Bruises” to establish the main segments in order. Create a simple step-by-step drawing routine beginning with 5 roots (C5–T1), connecting to 3 trunks, dividing into 6 divisions, forming 3 cords, and ending with the 5 main terminal branches.

3. What is the mnemonic for the Three Musketeers brachial plexus?

“Three Musketeers Assassinated 5 Rats, 5 Mice, and 2 Unicorns” helps recall the spinal root contributions to the five major terminal nerves:

Phrase	Nerve	Roots
Three Musketeers	Musculocutaneous	C5, C6, C7
Assassinated	Axillary	C5, C6
5 Rats	Radial	C5–T1 (all five roots)
5 Mice	Median	C5–T1 (all five roots)
2 Unicorns	Ulnar	C8, T1

This mnemonic is particularly useful for understanding the pattern of weakness in various brachial plexus injuries.

4. What is the mnemonic for the nerve branches?

“Most Alcoholics Must Really Urinate” helps remember the terminal branches in lateral-to-medial order: Musculocutaneous, Axillary, Median, Radial, and Ulnar nerves. For specific cord branches, use “Lucy Loves Me” (lateral cord), “Most Medical Men Use Morphine” (medial cord), and “ULTRA” (posterior cord).