Axilla
(the armpit)
Prof. Dr. Selda Önderoğlu
Department of Anatomy
borders
Anterior wall
pectoralis major m.
pectoralis minor m.
Clavipectoral fascia
Posterior
Subscapularis m.
teres major m.
latissimus dorsi m.
Medial
1-4 ribs
İntercostal mm.
serratus anterior m.
Lateral
ıntertubercular
Sulcus
apex
Clavicula (anterior) 1st rib (medial)
superior border of scapula (post.)
Base
Axillary fascia skin
contents
Loose connective tissue
Axillary artery Axillary vein Axillary lymph nodes
brachial Plexus
(infraclavicular
part)
Borders of Axillary Fossa
Prof. Dr. H. Selçuk Sürücü
Base
Skin and axillary fascia
Apex
Anterior wall
Pectoralis major Pectoralis minor
Clavi-pectoral fascia
Posterior wall
Subscapular Teres major
Latissimus dorsi
Prof. Dr. H. Selçuk Sürücü
Medial wall
Ribs 1-4
Intercostal mm.
Serratus ant. M.
Lateral wall
Intertubercular
sulcus (groove)
What is inside the fossa?
Loose connective tissue Axillary a-v
Axillary lymph nodes brachial plexus
(Infraclavicular part )
Axillary artery
Axillary Artery
( continuation of subclavian a.)
subclavian a.
after 1
strib becomes Axillary artery
After teres major m.
becomes
brachial a.
axillary artery is divided into 3 parts
according to its position to pectoralis minor m.
1st part - 1 branch
Supreme ( highest) thoracic a.
2nd part – 2 brs.
Thoracoacromial a.
Lateral thoracic a.
3
rdpart - 3 brs.
Subscapular a. (the thickest br. of
axill.a.
circumflex scapular a.
Thoracodorsal a.
Ant. humeral circumflex a.
post. humeral
circumflex a.
Ist part
of axillary artery
Superior (highest)
(supreme) thoracic a
2nd part of axillary artery
Thoraco-acromial a
Lateral thoracic a
3rd part
of axillary artery
Anterior circumflex humeral a
Posterior circumflex humeral a
Subscapular a
(Thickest branch) Thorocodorsal a
Circumflex scapular a
Thoracodorsal a
axillary vein
Basilic vein
After:teres major m.
continues as the
Axillary vein
1st rib
Continues as the
Subclavian vein
Cephalic vein joins
the axillary vein
Structures piercing clavipectoral fascia
Cephalic v
Thoraco-acromial a Lymph vess
Lat pectoral n
Axillary Lymph Nodes
Anterior group (pectoral) 4-5
Posterior group (subscapular) 6-7 Lateral group 4-6
Central group 3-4
Apical Group 6-12
central anterior
posterior lateral
apical Subclavian trunk
Lymph vessels accompanying cephalic vein
Axillary lymph nodes: which group drains where
Axillary sheath
deep cervical fascia Superficial Lamina Pretracheal Lamina Prevertebral Lamina
Axillary sheath
carotid sheath
Axillary sheath encloses:
Axillary a.
Axillary v.
brachial plexus
( infraclavicular part)
So: axillary sheath is a part of deep cervical fascia
BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Network of nerves extending from the neck into the axilla
It innervates the structures in upper limb
Formed by the union of anterior rami
of spinal nerves from C5 to T1
Nerves From spinal cord to brachıal plexus
Ant. Root+ post. root
Unite&form spinal nerve
Spinal nerve divides into 2 rami (branches) Anterior ramus and posterior ramus
From Spinal cord emerges
Ant. Rami of C5-T1 unite and form the brachial plexus
Rami: plural of “ramus”
Prof. Dr. H. Selçuk Sürücü
C5 + C6 Sup. trunk
C7 Middle trunk
C8+T1 Inf.trunk roots trunks Brachial plexus
divisions Ant Post
Ant post
Ant post
cords
posterior
lateral
medial
n e
r v
e s
Trunks
Ant.rami of spinal nn
cords
Ant+post divisions
C4 C5 C6 C7
C8 T1
superior trunk middle trunk inferior trunk
lateral cord Medial cord Posterior cord
clavicle
Parts of brachial plexus
Supraclavicular part
- located in the neck
Infraclavicular part
-Located in the axilla
clavicle
Nn from Roots
Dorsal scapular n (C5) Rhomboids, levator scapulae
Long thoracic n (C 5-7)
Prof. Dr. H. Selçuk Sürücü
Nn from Trunks (C 5-6)
N to subclavius Suprascapular n
(Accessory phrenic n)
Nn from Lat Cord (C 5-7)
Lat pectoral n - Pectoralis major m Musculocutaneous n
Lateral root to median n
Nn form Medial Cord (C 8- T1)
Medial root of median n Medial pectoral n-
Pectoralis muscles
Medial cutaneous n of arm
Medial cutaneous n of forearm
Ulnar n
Nn from post cord
Subscapular nn (C 5-6) Subscapular & teres major m
Thoracodorsal n (C 5-8) Axillary n ( C5-6)
Radial n (C5-T1)
Prof. Dr. H. Selçuk Sürücü
Prof. Dr. H. Selçuk Sürücü
