axilla Flashcards
boundaries
ofaxilla
Anterior wall is formed by the pectoralis major and minor
muscles, clavipectoral fascia and subclavius muscle .
The lower border of the anterior wall is called the anterior
fold of the axilla and is formed only by the pectoralis major
muscle.
Posterior wall is formed by the subscapularis muscle
above and the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles
below.
The lower border of the posterior wall is called the
posterior fold of the axilla and is formed by the
latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles.
• Medial wall is formed by the thoracic wall (upper 4 ribs)
with the serratus anterior muscle.
• Lateral wall is formed by the upper part of the shaft of
the humerus, coracobrachialis and short head of bicep
content of
axilla
1.Axillary artery & its branches.
2. Axillary vein & its tributaries.
3. Brachial plexus (cords and
branches).
4. Axillary lymph nodes.
5. Axillary fat.
6. Axillary tail of female breast.
covered by axillary
sheath
axillary artery
Beginning: as a continuation of
the subclavian artery at outer
border of 1st rib.
• Termination: at the lower
border of teres major where it
continues as brachial artery.
axillary artery by pectoralis minor muscles
• 1st part: above pectoralis minor
• 2nd part: Behind pectoralis
minor
• 3rd part: below pectoralis minor.
Branches of axillary
artery
Branches of axillary artery:
From the 1
st Part: 1. Superior
thoracic artery.
From the 2
nd Part:
1. Thoracoacromial artery
(Acromial branch, Pectoral
branch, Clavicular branch,
Deltoid branch).
2. Lateral thoracic artery.
From the 3
rd Part:
1. Subscapular artery
2. Anterior circumflex
humeral artery.
3. Posterior circumflex
humeral artery.
axillary
lymph node arrangement
• Anterior ((pectoral ) group: lie
along the lateral thoracic artery.
• Posterior (subscapular) group:
lie along the subscapular artery.
• Lateral ( brachial ) group: lie
along the lateral wall of the
axilla.
• Central group: at the base of
the axilla.
• Apical group: at the apex of the
axilla.
BRACHIAL PLEXUS
the anterior rami of
the fifth, sixth, seventh, and
eighth cervical and the first
thoracic spinal nerves.
The branches of the different
parts of the brachial plexus roots
Dorsal scapular nerve (C5)
• Long thoracic nerve (C5, 6, 7)
The branches of the different
parts of the brachial plexus upper trunks
Nerve to subclavius (C5, 6)
• Suprascapular nerve (C5,6)
The branches of the different
parts of the brachial plexus
lateral cord
Lateral pectoral nerve (C5,6,7)
• Musculocutaneous nerve
(5,6,7)
• Lateral root of median nerve
(C5,6,7)
The branches of the different
parts of the brachial plexusmedialcord
• Medial pectoral nerve(C8,T1)
• Medial cutaneous nerve of arm
(C8,T1)
• Medial cutaneous nerve of
forearm (C8,T1)
• Medial root of median nerve
(C8,T1)
• Ulnar nerve (C7,8,T1)
The branches of the different
parts of the brachial plexus posterior
cord
• Upper subscapular nerve (C5,6)
• Lower subscapular nerve (C5,6)
• Thoracodorsal nerve (C6,7,8)
• Axillary nerve (C5,6)
• Radial nerve (C5,6,7,8,T1)
axillary
nerve origin & passage
from the posterior cord of
the brachial plexus (C5 & 6)
in the axilla
It passes backward and
enters the quadrangular
space with the posterior
circumflex humeral artery.
Where it is related to the
surgical neck of the
humerus
Branches
of axillary nerve
• An articular branch to the
shoulder joint.
• An anterior branch: it supplies
the deltoid and the skin that
covers its lower part.
• A posterior branch: it gives off
a branch to the teres minor
muscle and a few branches to
the deltoid, then emerges from
the posterior border of the
deltoid as the upper lateral
cutaneous nerve of the arm .
• It is thus seen that the axillary
nerve supplies the shoulder
joint, two muscles (deltoid &
teres minor), and the skin
covering the lower half of the
deltoid muscle.
roots→ trunks
5-6 unite→ uppertrunk
7 →middle trunk
8-T1 → lower trunk
