Neurovascular anatomy of the upper limb

Question 1

What is the axilla?

Answer 1

An area of transition between the neck and arm

Question 2

What is the role of the axilla?

Answer 2

Distribution centre for the neurovascular structures that serve the upper limb

Question 3

What are the four things that form the axilla?

Answer 3

Clavicle
Scapula
Upper thoracic wall
Humerus and related muscles

Question 4

What is the anterior wall of the axilla?

Answer 4

Lateral part of the pectoralis major

underlying pectoralis minor

Question 5

What is the posterior wall of the axilla?

Answer 5

Scapula and subscapularis on aterior surface

teres major and latissmus dorsi

Question 6

What is the medial wall of the axilla?

Answer 6

thoracic wall and overlying serratus anterior

Question 7

What is the lateral wall of the axila?

Answer 7

Intertubercular sulcus

Question 8

What is the cervico- axillary canal? and what is it bounded by?

Answer 8

Passageway between the neck and axilla
1st rib
clavicle
superior edge of scapula

Question 9

What is the brachial plexus?

Answer 9

A network of nerves with motor and sensory nerves

Question 10

Where is the quadrangular space in relation to teres minor and what is present within it?

Answer 10

Axillary nerve and is inferior teres minor and posterior circumflex humeral artery

Question 11

What is the inferior boundary of the triangular space?

Answer 11

superior border of the teres major

Question 12

What is the lateral boundary of the triangular space?

Answer 12

the long head of the triceps

Question 13

What is the superior boundary of the triangular space?

Answer 13

teres minor/suscapularis

Question 14

What are the contents of the triangular space?

Answer 14

Scapular curcumflex artery

Question 15

What is the superior border of the triangular interval?

Answer 15

teres major

Question 16

What is the medial border of the triangular interval?

Answer 16

long head of the triceps brachii

Question 17

What are the contents of the triangular interval?

Answer 17

The radial nerve and profunda brachii artery

Question 18

What is the superior border of the quadrangular space?

Answer 18

Teres minor

Question 19

What is the inferior border of the quadrangular space?

Answer 19

teres major

Question 20

What is the medial border of the quadrangular space?

Answer 20

the long head of the tricpes brachii

Question 21

What is the lateral border of the quadrangular space?

Answer 21

the surgical neck of the humerus

Question 22

What forms the floor (base) of the axilla?

Answer 22

Concave skin
Subcutaneous tissue
Axillary fascia

Question 23

What is the base of axilla supported by?

Answer 23

The clavipectoral fascia

Question 24

What are the contents of the axilla? and what are they embedded in?

Answer 24

Axillary artery
Axillary vein
Axillary lymph nodes
Brachial plexus
Biceps brachii – short head
Coracobrachialis
all embedded in fat

Question 25

What is the sleeve like extension called that the neurovascular structures are embedded in and what is it made of?

Answer 25

Axillary sheath made up of connective tissue

Question 26

What happens to the brachial artery at the elbow?

Answer 26

It becomes the ulna and radial artery

Question 27

What are the 3 big blood vessels that originate from the aortic arch?

Answer 27

Brachiocephalic trunk left carotid artery left subclavian artery

Question 28

What is meant by the term subclavian?

Answer 28

Under the clavicle

Question 29

What is the role of the axillary artery?

Answer 29

Supplies the walls of the axilla and related regions

Question 30

Where and what does the axillary artery start as?

Answer 30

Subclavian artery and starts at the lateral border of the first rib

Question 31

Where does the axillary artery finish as and as what?

Answer 31

Inferior border of teres major

Question 32

What is the axillary sheath continuous with as it traces into the root of the neck?

Answer 32

Prevertebral fascia

Question 33

How many parts is there of the axillary artery and what separates it?

Answer 33

3 | pectoralis minor

Question 34

Describe the position of the first part of the axillary artery

Answer 34

Proximal to pec minor from medial part of pec minor and lateral part of 1st rib

Question 35

Describe the position of the second part of the axillary artery?

Answer 35

posterior to pec minor

Question 36

Describe the position of the third part of the axillary artery

Answer 36

distal to pec minor from lateral part of pec minor to inferior border of teres major

Question 37

How many branches is there in the axillary artery and how many in each part?

Answer 37

6 branches 1 branch in 1st part 2 branches in 2nd part 3 branches in 3rd part

Question 38

What is the branch(es) in the first part of the axillary artery?

Answer 38

Superior thoracic artery

Question 39

What is the branch(es) in the second part of the axillary artery?

Answer 39

Thoraco-acromial artery and lateral thoracic artery

Question 40

What is the branch(es) in the third part of the axillary artery?

Answer 40

Subscapular artery, anterior circumflex humeral artery and posterior circumflex artery

Question 41

What does the axillary vein start as and where does it start?

Answer 41

Basilic vein and inferior border of teres major

Question 42

What does the axillary vein finish as and where does it finish?

Answer 42

Subclavian vein and at the lateral border of the first rib

Question 43

What is the role of the cephalic vein?

Answer 43

Drains deoxygenated blood in vein

Question 44

What happens when there is dilation of the first part of the axillary artery?

Answer 44

aneurysm- the artery will enlarge and compress the trunk of the brachial plexus, causing pain and anaesthesia in the areas of skin supplied by the affected nerves

Question 45

What forms the brachial plexus?

Answer 45

Formed by the union of the anterior rami of the last 4 cervical (C5-C8) & first thoracic (T1) nerves which make the roots

Question 46

From medial to lateral what are the five parts of the brachial plexus?

Answer 46

``` Roots Trunks Divisions Cords Terminal nerves ```

Question 47

What are the trunks and where do they come from?

Answer 47

Superior -C5 and C6 Middle - C7 Inferior - C8 and T1

Question 48

How is the posterior cord of the brachial plexus formed?

Answer 48

3 posterior divisions come from the 3 trunks to form the posterior cord

Question 49

How is the lateral cord of the brachial plexus formed?

Answer 49

an anterior division from each the trunk superior and the middle trunk

Question 50

How is the medial cord of the brachial plexus formed?

Answer 50

it is formed from the anterior division which comes from the inferior trunk