What muscle is primarily supplied by the thoracodorsal nerve?

The muscle primarily supplied by the thoracodorsal nerve is the latissimus dorsi. This nerve originates from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, specifically from the C6, C7, and C8 nerve roots. The thoracodorsal nerve provides motor innervation to the latissimus dorsi, which is a large muscle that plays a crucial role in the movements of the shoulder, including extension, adduction, and internal rotation of the arm.

The latissimus dorsi is essential for various physical actions, such as pulling, reaching, and swimming, making its innervation vital for proper upper limb function. Understanding the nerve supply to this muscle is important in both surgical settings and rehabilitation, as damage to the thoracodorsal nerve can lead to weakness in movements that rely on the latissimus dorsi.

In contrast, the other muscles mentioned have different nerve supplies. For instance, the infraspinatus is primarily innervated by the suprascapular nerve, while the subscapularis muscle receives innervation from the upper and lower subscapular nerves. The teres major is also innervated by the lower subscapular nerve. Thus, recognizing