Nerve Whiz App, a tool for learning muscle and sensory innervations and peripheral nerve anatomy

Knowing motor and sensory innervations is something we all learn at anatomy classes and something that has a practical use in clinical setting.

However, remembering which spinal roots innervate which muscle groups can be hard without some sort of aid, even for clinicians with a good memory.

Luckily, modern technologies come to rescue once again. Many healthcare providers carry their mobile devices with them most of the time during their shifts. These devices could be loaded with mobile apps that could help clinicians learn muscle innervations and peripheral nerve anatomy and describe it to their patients.

The University Of Michigan's Department Of Neurology developed Nerve Whiz app we review today, with a goal to help medical students and clinicians learn motor and sensory innervations in an easy way, thanks to the nerve charts and diagrams that help users digest this difficult-to-learn subject.

Nerve Whiz is a simple and straightforward app. It doesn't require users to create an account. Just download it for free and you're good to go.

The app opens to the About section that doesn't explain the purpose of the app, but rather mentions developers and provides useful educational links. It's more like an introduction section.

The real action starts in the next section of the app called 'Charts.' This section features a list of the spinal nerve roots and their function. 
By default, the list starts with the upper spine, particularly with the C3-C4 spinal accessory nerve. The users can change the view to a lower spine and tap on each spinal nerve root in the list to learn more about the function.

Information is provided in a textual format and it contains a name, position of the spinal nerve, its action, and suggestions for a physical exam, i.e. what you should ask your patients to do to identify the problem. All the information is mostly accurate and easy to understand, however, it disregards possible spinal nerve root variances that may occur from person to person.

Also, some information may be limited to only certain zones, for example, C3-C4, which is mentioned to contribute innervation to the trapezius, but the diaphragm or phrenic nerve, which are both also innervated by C3-C4 are not mentioned here.

The next section of the app is 'Muscles' section, which allows users to add muscles (upper and lower) and view what nerves contribute in their innervation.

This section provides information similar to the information from the Charts section, but more detailed. There's also an option to view interactive diagrams explaining the nerves and associated muscles in a linear fashion that can be swiped left or right, or rotated horizontally. 

It would have been better if instead of a linear diagram a diagram of a human body has been featured, allowing users to tap on a particular body region and swipe right or left until they find the muscle they are looking for. Once you get used to this type of diagram, you'd see that it's actually quite handy and comprehensive.

Diagrams can also be accessed from the next section of Nerve Whiz app called 'Diagrams' section.  This section allows users the option to choose from different cervical, lumbar or sacral nerve roots and it will display interactive diagrams of the brachial and lumbosacral plexus, containing both muscles and nerves. 

The chosen nerve root is highlighted in red, allowing users to easily follow where that nerve root travels and which nerves it gives rise to. I think that medical students will especially appreciate this part because it provides a great aid when it comes to memorizing the brachial plexus.

The last section of the app is the Sensory section that contains diagrams of the upper and lower limbs. Users can tap on them and that would open a new page containing the body part chosen (for example hands) with highlighted spinal nerve roots that provide sensory innervation to the selected area.

While the Nerve Whiz app is a useful tool for learning motor and sensory innervations thanks to easy to use and understand diagrams and charts, it would be even better with some additional things.

First, the information provided in the app is accurate, but some lack additional facts and content. Diagrams in a form of human body would be a great addition.

Second, as an educational app, Nerve Whiz lacks some sort of quiz option that would help medical students test their knowledge.

Finally, since the app also aims at clinicians, adding neurologic physical examination guidelines and tools would be a fantastic addition.
Nevertheless, Nerve Whiz app is a very useful point-of-care tool for learning and memorizing motor and sensory innervations, even in its current form.

Benefit: Neurologists, medical students and all clinicians who want to learn motor and sensory innervations would benefit from this app