Axilla

Question 1

Contents of axilla

Answer 1

Axillary artery
Axillary vein
Lymph nodes
Brachial plexus 
Tendons of the short head of biceps brachii and coracobrachialis

Question 2

What are the borders of the axilla

Answer 2

Apex- superior border of scapula, 1st rib, posterior border of clavicle.
Lateral- intertubercular sulcus of humerus
Medial- serratus anterior and ribcage
Posteriorly- tears major, latissmus dorsi, subscapularis
Anteriorly- pec major and minor
Floor- skin

Question 3

Clinical relevance of the axilla

Answer 3

Lymph node clearance
75% of lymph from the breast tissue drains into the lymph nodes on the axilla so it breast cancer is detected then biopsies are taken from the lymph node and if cancer is found then the lymph nodes have to be removed to avoid the cancer spreading to other parts of the body

Question 4

What is the risk of axillary clearance

Answer 4

Damage to long thoraci nerve resulting in winged scapula