Winging of scapula is due to paralysis of…… nerve:
Winging of the scapula is when the medial border of the scapula protrudes against the chest wall. I remember that the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles are crucial for scapular stability. The serratus anterior is innervated by the long thoracic nerve, which arises from C5-C7. If this nerve is damaged, the serratus anterior can't hold the scapula against the chest wall, causing winging. The trapezius is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI), so its paralysis would also cause winging but maybe in a different pattern. There's also the possibility of thoracodorsal nerve involvement, but that's for the latissimus dorsi, which might not be the main issue here. Let me check the options again. The correct answer should be the long thoracic nerve. The other options might be the thoracodorsal, medial pectoral, or others. I need to make sure each distractor is addressed correctly. For example, the medial pectoral nerve innervates the pectoralis minor, which isn't directly responsible for scapular winging. The thoracodorsal nerve affects the latissimus dorsi, which is more about arm movement than scapular stability. So the correct answer is the long thoracic nerve. Now, I need to structure the explanation with the required sections, making sure each part is clear and concise.
**Core Concept**
Winging of the scapula occurs due to dysfunction of the serratus anterior muscle, which is innervated by the **long thoracic nerve**. This nerve arises from C5-C7 and stabilizes the scapula against the thoracic wall. Damage leads to medial scapular protrusion.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The **long thoracic nerve** directly innervates the serratus anterior. This muscle is responsible for pulling the scapula forward and against the ribcage during arm elevation. Paralysis disrupts this function, causing the scapula to "wing" outward, especially during arm abduction. Lesions often result from trauma, cervical root avulsion, or iatrogenic injury during surgery.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Thoracodorsal nerve* innervates the latissimus dorsi, which is involved in arm adduction and extension, not scapular stabilization.
**Option B:** *Medial pectoral nerve* supplies the pectoralis minor and major; pectoralis minor weakness does not cause winging.
**Option C:** *Axillary nerve* innervates the deltoid and teres minor; its injury causes shoulder abduction deficits, not scapular winging.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember: **"Serratus anterior = long thoracic nerve"** (C5-C7). Test for winging by asking the patient to push against resistance; the scapula will wing if the serratus anterior is weak. Distinguish from trapezius injury (spinal accessory nerve p