Session 17 - The Axilla, Brachial Plexus and Anterior Arm Flashcards
Describe the route of arterial blood from the:
Left ventricle to the right axillary artery
Left ventricle to the left axillary artery.
Aorta > brachiocephalic trunk > right subclavian > right axillary
Aorta > left subclavian > left axillary
Anterior border of Axilla
Pec maj and min
Lateral border of Axilla
Intertubercular sulcus
Posterior border of Axilla
Subscapularis, pec major, lat dorsi
Medial border of Axilla
Serratus anterior, thoracic wall
Draw and label a diagram of the brachial plexus showing the roots, trunks,
divisions, cords and the five terminal branches
Refer to the image in your Upper Limb Part 1 handbook.
You do not need to be able to add all the small branches to the plexus
Describe how the cords of the brachial plexus are situated relative to the second
part of the axillary artery.
The lateral cord lies laterally, the medial cord medially and the posterior
cord lies posteriorly to the artery.
Which regions of the body drain directly to the axillary lymph nodes?
Drain: Upper limb, breast, chest wall, scapular region and the
abdominal wall as far as the umbilicus.
Which lymph nodes receive lymph from all other nodes in the axilla?
What are the often involved in the spread of?
Apical nodes
Cancer (Metastasis)
How many groups of lymph nodes are there?
5
Which lymph nodes can be biopsied?
Axillary lymph nodes
What key structures are found in the cubital fossa? Where are they located
relative to each other?
The biceps tendon, brachial artery and median nerve.
The brachial artery and median nerve both lie medial to the biceps tendon.
Superior border of cubital fossa?
Medial epicondyle
Medial border of cubital fossa?
Pronator teres
Lateral border of cubital fossa?
Brachioradialis
