| Function | Muscle | Nerve |
| Plexus cervicalis: C1-C4 | ||
| Cervical nerves | ||
| Flexion, extension, rotation and lateral bending of the back | Colli profundi (+ sternocleidomastoideus + trapezius) | C1-C4 |
| Lifting of upper thorax; inspiration | Scaleni | C3-C5 |
| Phrenic nerve | ||
| Inspiration | Diaphragm | C3-C5 |
| Plexus brachialis: C5-T1 | ||
| Anterior thoracic nerve | ||
| Adduction and internal rotation of arm and dorsoventral lowering of shoulder | Pectoralis major and minor | C5-T1 |
| Long thoracic nerve | ||
| Fixation of scapula during lifting of arm (anterior movement of shoulder) | Serratus anterior | C5-C7 |
| Dorsal scapular nerve | ||
| Elevation and adduction of scapula toward spinal column | Levator scapulae Rhomboidei |
C4-C5 |
| Suprascapular nerve | ||
| Lifting and outward rotation of arm | Supraspinatus | C4-C6 |
| Outward rotation of arm in shoulder joint | Infraspinatus | C4-C6 |
| Dorsal thoracic nerve | ||
| Inward rotation of shoulder joint; adduction from ventral to dorsal; lowering of elevated arm | Latissimus dorsi Teres major Subscapularis |
C5-C8 (from dorsal portion of plexus) |
| Axillary nerve | ||
| Lateral lifting (abduction) of arm up to the horizontal line | Deltoideus | C5-C6 |
| Outward rotation of arm | Teres minor | C4-C5 |
| Musculocutaneous nerve | ||
| Flexion of upper and lower arm and supination of lower arm | Biceps brachii | C5-C6 |
| Elevation and adduction of arm | Coracobrachialis | C5-C7 |
| Flexion of lower arm | Brachialis | C5-C6 |
| Median nerve | ||
| Flexion and radial deviation of hand | Flexor carpi radialis | C6-C7 |
| Pronation of lower arm | Pronator teres | C6-C7 |
| Flexion of hand | Palmaris longus | C7-T1 |
| Flexion of fingers II-V in middle phalanges | Flexor digitorum superficialis | C7-T1 |
| Flexion of end phalanx of the thumb | Flexor pollicis longus | C6-C8 |
| Flexion of end phalanges of index and middle finger | Flexor digitorum profundus (radial portion) | C7-T1 |
