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Axilla
Axilla
Axilla - walls, content, gateways. Axillary artery and vein. Axillary lymph nodes. Surface anatomy.
Clinical significance.
Borders
Anterior wall
- contains the lateral part of Pectoralis Major m.
the underlying Pectoralis Minor m.
Subclavius m.
Medial wall
- consists of upper thoracic wall ( upper 4-5 ribs and intercostal m.)
Serratus anterior m.
Lateral wall
- formed by intertubercular groove of the humerus whose lips give
attachment to the muscles of the anterior and posterior axillary
wall.
Tendon of Biceps Brachii (in bicipital groove of humerus
Choracobrachialis m. )
Short head of Biceps brachii.
Posterior wall formed by the costal surface of the scapula;
muscles of the wall are:
Subscapularis m. (costal surface of scapula)
(above)
Latissimus Dorsi m. (distal part) (below)
Teres Major m. (distal part) (below)
Long head of Triceps Brachii m. (proximal part)
Floor/ Base formed by axillary fascia and a dome of skin that spans the
distance between the inferior margin of the walls
supported by the Clavipectoral Fascia
inferiorly - structures pass into & out of the axilla immediately
lateral to the floor where the ant.&post. walls of
the axilla converge
- where the axilla continuous with the anterior
compartiment of the arm.
Axillary artery main artery supplying the upper limb/walls of the axilla
and its branches and related regions
referred as having 3 parts:
1. medial to the Pectoralis Minor
( proximal to superior )
2. posterior to the Pectoralis Minor
( deep )
3. lateral to the Pectoralis Minor
( distal to inferior )
* medial & posterior parts travel in the axilla *
Subclavian artery in the neck becomes the axillary
artery at the lateral margin of 1 st rib which passes
through axilla becoming Brachial artery
( inferior margin of Teres Major m.)
Branches of the Axillary artery
2nd part - Thoraco - acromial artery - upper border Pectoralis Minor m. pierces clavipectoral
fascia Pectoral b.
Deltoid b.
Acromial b.
Clavicular b.
Tributaries
2nd part
3rd part
Filter lymph that has drained from the upper limb and pectoral region;
Receive drainage from ~ 75% of the mammary gland;
20-30 axillary nodes are divided into 5 groups on the basis of location
Central nodes
- embedded in axillary fat ;
- tributaries from humeral, subscapular, pectoral nodes.
Quadrangular space
-passage way for nerves and vessels passing between the axilla and the more posterior scapular and
deltoid region.
- anteriorly = bondaries:
Inferior margin of the subscapularis m.
Surgical neck of the humerus
Superior margin of the Teres Major m.
Latera margin of the long head of the Triceps Brachii m.
Triangular space
Triangular intervals
- formed by :
Lateral margin - long head - Triceps Brachii m.
Shaft of the humerus
Inferior margin - Teres Major m.