An injury to C5 would likely cause weakness in which shoulder movement?

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Multiple Choice

An injury to C5 would likely cause weakness in which shoulder movement?

Explanation:
C5 largely controls the muscles responsible for lifting the arm away from the body. The primary shoulder abductors—the supraspinatus (initiates the movement) and the deltoid (continues and completes it)—receive innervation that includes the C5 nerve root. When C5 is injured, these muscles don’t work as well, so abduction weakness is most likely. While other movements like internal rotation, external rotation, or adduction involve C5-C6-innervated muscles as well, the deficit most characteristic of a C5 injury is reduced shoulder abduction due to disruption of the deltoid and supraspinatus.

C5 largely controls the muscles responsible for lifting the arm away from the body. The primary shoulder abductors—the supraspinatus (initiates the movement) and the deltoid (continues and completes it)—receive innervation that includes the C5 nerve root. When C5 is injured, these muscles don’t work as well, so abduction weakness is most likely. While other movements like internal rotation, external rotation, or adduction involve C5-C6-innervated muscles as well, the deficit most characteristic of a C5 injury is reduced shoulder abduction due to disruption of the deltoid and supraspinatus.

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