Dr.
Eman El Sawaf
Anatomy & Embryology Department
Faculty Of Medicine, Helwan University
Basic Medical
Science II
Module Anatomy
Upper Limb
Upper Limb Regions
Pectoral
Scapular
Axilla
Arm
For Arm
Hand
Bones Of The Upper Limb
Clavicle
Scapula
Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Hand
The Axilla
Objectives
- By the end of this lecture student should be
able to:
Describe the anatomy of the axilla
(boundaries - contents)
Contents Pages:
Axillary inlet -
- Definition: - Anterior wall -
Medial wall
Boundaries: -
- Lateral wall - Blood
- Posterior vessels -
wall - Floor Nerves
- - Lymphatics
Contents: - 721 to 737
Muscles
Definition
The Axilla
- It is a pyramidal
space situated
between the upper
part of the side of
the chest and the
upper part of the
arm
Definition
The Axilla
- It is a pyramidal
space situated
between the
upper
part of the side of
the chest and the
upper part of the
arm
Definition
The Axilla
- It provides area
of transition
between the neck
and the arm
- All major
structures passing
into and out of the
upper limb pass
through the axilla
Boundaries
The Axilla
- Axillary inlet (apex)
- Base (Floor)
- Anterior wall
- Posterior wall
- Medial wall
- Lateral wall
The Axilla
Boundaries
- Axillary inlet (apex)
- Base (Floor)
- Anterior wall
- Posterior wall
- Medial wall
- Lateral wall
Boundaries:
The Axilla Axillary inlet
It is triangular in
shape, with its
apex directed
laterally.
Posterior margin: Superior border of the scapula
The Axilla
Medial margin:
Lateral border of the first rib
Boundaries: Axillary inlet
Anterior margin: Post. surface of the clavicle
Boundaries:
Axillary inlet
Posterior margin:
Superior border of the scapula Lateral
The Axilla
Medial
Medial margin:
Lateral border of
the first rib
Anterior margin:
Post. surface of the
clavicle
Boundaries:
Axillary inlet
Posterior margin:
Superior border of the scapula Lateral
The Axilla Medial
Medial margin:
Lateral border of
the first rib
surface of the clavicle
Anterior margin: Post.
Structures passing
The Axilla
through the
axillary inlet
Major blood
vessels and
nerves pass
Structures passing through the
between the axillary inlet
neck and the -The subclavian
axilla The Axilla
Axillary inlet
Boundaries: Axillary inlet
axilla to enter the
neck.
artery becomes the - Cords of the
axillary artery at the brachial plexus
lateral margin of first
rib and enters the
axilla. VAN
-The axillary vein
becomes the
subclavian vein at the
lateral margin of first
rib and leaves the
Brachial Subclavian
plexus artery
vein
Axillary Subclavian
artery vein
Axillary
Boundaries:
The Axilla Anterior Wall
Boundaries:
Anterior Wall
The anterior wall is formed by:
- The lateral part of the pectoralis
major muscle
-The pectoralis
minor and
subclavius muscles -The clavipectoral fascia
The Axilla
major
Boundaries:
Anterior Wall
The anterior wall is formed
by:
- The lateral part of the
pectoralis
major muscle
-The pectoralis
The Axilla
Clavipectoral
minor and is formed by:
subclavius - The lateral part
muscles -The of the pectoralis
clavipectoral major muscle
fascia -The pectoralis
Pectoralis minor minor and
fascia subclavius
muscles -The
Pectoralis clavipectoral
major
fascia
Boundaries:
Anterior Wall The Axilla
The anterior wall
fascia
Pectorali
major
Pectoralis
minor
Boundaries:
Anterior Wall
- The lower border of the anterior wall is
called the
anterior axillary fold
- It is formed by the pectoralis major muscle.
The Axilla
major
Boundaries: The Axilla
Anterior Wall
- The lower border of the
anterior wall is called the
anterior axillary fold
- It is formed by the
pectoralis major muscle.
Boundaries:
The Axilla Medial Wall
Boundaries:
Medial Wall
The medial wall is formed by:
-The upper thoracic wall (the ribs and related
intercostal tissues).
-The serratus
anterior muscle
The Axilla
Boundaries:
Medial Wall
The medial wall is
formed by:
-The upper thoracic
wall (the ribs and
related intercostal
muscles).
-The serratus
anterior muscle
The Axilla
Serratus anterior
muscle
Boundaries:
The Axilla Lateral Wall
Boundaries:
The Axilla Lateral Wall
- It is narrow
- The lateral wall is formed by:
-The intertubercular sulcus
(bicipital groove) of
the humerus.
-The pectoralis major muscle
(Lateral lip)
-The latissimus dorsi muscle
( Floor)
-The teres major muscle
(Medial lip)
The Axilla
Boundaries:
Lateral Wall
- It is narrow
- The lateral wall is formed by:
-The intertubercular sulcus of
the humerus.
-The pectoralis major muscle
(Lateral lip)
-The latissimus dorsi muscle
( Floor)
-The teres major muscle
(Medial lip)
The Axilla
Boundaries:
Posterior Wall
Boundaries:
The Axilla Posterior Wall
The posterior wall is formed by:
- The costal surface of the
scapula
- Muscles:
• Subscapularis muscle
• Teres major muscle
• Latissimus dorsi muscle
The Axilla
Boundaries:
Posterior Wall
The posterior wall is formed by:
- The costal surface of the
scapula
- Muscles:
• Subscapularis muscle (1)
• Teres major muscle (2)
• Latissimus dorsi muscle (3)
Boundaries:
The Axilla Posterior Wall
Scapula
Subscapularis m.
Teres major m.
Latissimus dorsi m.
Boundaries: The Axilla Posterior Wall
-The posterior wall is
extends lower than the
anterior wall
- Its lower border is
called posterior axillary
fold
- It is formed by teres
major and latissimus
dorsi muscles
-The anterior axillary fold is
more superior in position than
is the posterior axillary fold.
Boundaries: The Axilla
Floor (Base)
Boundaries: The Axilla Floor (Base)
The floor is formed by:
- Skin & fascia (axillary fascia) -It is
supported by the clavipectoral fascia
Boundaries: The Axilla Floor (Base)
The floor is formed
by:
- Skin & fascia
(axillary fascia)
-It is supported by
the clavipectoral
fascia
Floor of the axilla
Contents The Axilla
- Axillary vessels
- Cords of the brachial
plexus
-Collections of lymph
nodes, which drain the
upper limb, chest wall, and
breast.
-The proximal parts of the
biceps brachii and
coracobrachialis muscles.
Contents The Axilla
Cords of muscles
the
brachial
plexus
Biceps
&
Lymph nodes
Coracobrachialis
Coracobrachialis
muscles
Axillary a. Axillary v.
Lymph nodes
Contents The Axilla
Cords of the
brachial plexus
Biceps &
Axillary a. Axillary v.
Contents
The Axilla
Lymph nodes
The Axilla
Boundaries Contents
Inlet It is triangular in shape. - Axillary
Anterior margin: The clavicle vessels - Cords
Posterior margin: The superior border of of the
the scapula brachial plexus
Medial margin: The lateral border of the first rib -Collections of
lymph nodes,
Base Skin & fascia
which drain the
Anterior wall - The lateral part of the pectoralis major upper limb
muscle -The pectoralis minor and subclavius chest wall, and
muscles -The clavipectoral fascia breast. -The
proximal
Posterior wall The costal surface of the scapula
parts of the
- Muscles:
biceps brachii
• The subscapularis muscle
and
• The latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles
coracobrachial
Medial wall -The upper thoracic wall (the ribs and is muscles.
related intercostal tissues).
-The serratus anterior muscle
Lateral wall - The intertubercular sulcus of the
humerus. - Attached muscles
Origin
Axillary artery End
Course
Branches
Origin
Axillary artery End
Course
Branches
1- Subclavian artery 2- Axillary artery
1
3- Brachial artery
2
Arch of
aorta
3
Origin
Axillary artery
End
Origin At the lateral margin
(outer border) of first
rib the subclavian
artery in the neck
becomes the
axillary artery
End At the inferior margin of
the teres major muscle the
axillary artery becomes
the brachial artery
Teres major
Axillary a.
First rib Subclavian a.
Origin
Axillary artery
First rib
End
Subclavian a.
Axillary a.
Origin At the lat
margin (o
border) o
first rib
subclavia
artery in
neck
becomes
the axilla
artery
End At the
inferior
margin o
the teres
major
muscle th
axillary
artery
becomes
brachial
Teres
major
Brachial a.
Course
Axillary artery
The axillary artery is Third part Distal to the
divided into three parts by pectoralis
the minor muscle
pectoralis minor muscle,
which crosses anterior to
the artery:
Pectoralis
First part Proximal to minor
the pectoralis
minor muscle
Second part Posterior to
the pectoralis
minor muscle
Course
Axillary artery
The axillary artery is d Third part Distal t
into three parts by the pectora
pectoralis minor musc minor
crosses anterior to the
Pectoralis minor
First part Proxim
pectora
minor
2
Second part Posteri
pectora
minor
3
1
1
Branches
Axillary artery
2
3
First - Superior thoracic artery
part
Second - Thoraco-acromial artery
part - Lateral thoracic artery
Third - Subscapular artery
part - Anterior circumflex humeral
artery - Posterior circumflex
humeral artery
Branches
Axillary artery 1 2
Thoraco
acromial
Lateral
thoracic
Posterior
circumflex
humeral
Anterior
circumflex
humeral
Subscapular
3
Superior thoracic
Branches
Axillary artery
Posterior
circumflex
humeral
thoracic
Thoraco
acromial
Anterior
circumflex Lateral
humeral thoracic
1
2
3
Superior
Subscapular
Branches Subscapular artery:
Axillary artery - It is the largest branch of the
-They supply the axillary walls and axillary artery
the thoracic wall - It follows the inferior margin of
the subscapularis muscle
Thoracoacromial artery:
- At the sup. margin of pectoralis minor Anterior & posterior circumflex
m. - It penetrates the clavipectoral fascia humeral arteries:
- It divides into four branches acromial, - They pass anterior and posterior to the
pectoral, clavicular and deltoid branches surgical neck of the humerus
(A P C D). respectively and anastomose together
- They supply the glenohumeral joint
Lateral thoracic artery:
- At the inf. margin of pectoralis minor m.
- Beginning - End
Axillary vein
- Course
- Tributaries
- Beginning - End
Axillary vein
- Course
- Tributaries
Beginning - The axillary vein
begins at the lower
margin of the teres
major muscle and is
the continuation of
the
basilic vein.
End - It becomes the
subclavian vein at
the lateral border of
the first rib.
Course - The axillary vein
passes through the
axilla medial and
anterior to the axillary
artery.
Tributaries - Tributaries that
follow the branches of
the
axillary artery.
- Brachial veins
that follow the
brachial
artery.
- Cephalic vein.
Axillary vein - Beginning
- End
- Course
- Tributaries
- Beginning - End
- Course
- Tributaries
Axillary vein
Reference
rd
Gray's Anatomy for Students, 3 Ed.
with STUDENT CONSULT Online
Access Drake, Vogl & Mitchell 2014.
ISBN: 978-0-7020-5131-9
Thank You
