LECTURE FOUR

AXILLA
Boundaries and Contents
• Brachial plexus: cords and branches

• Axillary artery and branches

• Axillary vein and tributaries

• Axillary lymph nodes and vessels

Axilla: boundaries
Inlet, walls, and outlet of the right axilla.
Inlet, walls, and outlet of the right axilla.
Inlet, walls, and outlet of the right axilla.
Axilla: contents
Axillary Sheath
BRACHIAL PLEXUS
PLAN OF THE PLEXUS
SUPRACLAVICULAR AND INFRACLAVICULAR BRANCHES
SUPRACLAVICULAR BRANCHES
INFRACLAVICULAR BRANCHES: from lateral & medial cords
INFRACLAVICULAR BRANCHES: from posterior cord
BRANCHES OF THE PLEXUS
FROM ROOTS
• dorsal scapular (C5)
• long thoracic (C5,6,7)
FROM TRUNKS
• nerve to subclavius
• suprascapular (from superior trunk)
FROM DIVISIONS - none
FROM CORDS
Lateral cord - 3 branches
•lateral pectoral
•lateral contribution to median n.
•musculocutaneous
Medial cord - 5 branches
•medial pectoral
•medial brachial cutaneous
•medial antebrachial cutaneous
•medial contribution to median n.
•ulnar
Posterior cord - 5 branches
•upper subscapular
•thoracodorsal (middle subscapular)
•lower subscapular
•axillary
•
Distribution of the main branches of the brachial plexus to
different fascial compartments of the arm and forearm.
AXILLARY ARTERY
AXILARY ARTERY: relations 1st , 2nd and 3rd parts
AXILLARY ARTERY: branches
AXILLARY ARTERY: branches
SCAPULAR ANASTOMOSIS
 Superior thoracic Thoracoacromial Subscapular
artery artery artery

Brachiocephalic trunk Subclavian artery Axillary artery Axillary artery Axillary artery
(1st part) (2nd part) (3rd part)

Lateral thoracic Ant. Circ. Post. Circ.

artery Humeral artery Humeral artery

Radial
recurrent
artery

Sup. Ulnar
Collateral
Nutrient
artery artery
Deep palmar Radial artery
arch
Superficial branch

Deep branch Brachial artery

Superficial
palmar arch Ulnar artery

Inf. Ulnar
Post. interosseous Collateral
artery Profunda brachii
Common Anterior &
interosseous Posterior Ulnar
Ant. interosseous artery recurrent
arteries
AXILLARY VEIN: parts and tributaries
 AXILLARY
LYMPH NODES

• Lateral Axillary

• Subscapular
(Posterior axillary)

• Pectoral
(Anterior axillary)

• Central Axillary

• Apical Axillary
AXILLARY LYMPH NODES