Axillary artery
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
| Artery: Axillary artery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Axillary artery and its branches - anterior view of right upper limb and thorax. (The widest artery running diagonally is labeled the axillary artery at the upper right, and the brachial artery at the lower left.) | |
 | |
| The pectoralis minor is used as a landmark for dividing the axillary artery into three parts. | |
| Latin | arteria axillaris |
| Gray's | subject #149 586 |
| Supplies | axilla |
| Source | subclavian artery |
| Branches | Superior thoracic Thoracoacromial Lateral thoracic Subscapular Anterior circumflex humeral Posterior circumflex humeral |
| Vein | axillary vein |
| MeSH | Axillary+Artery |
| Dorlands / Elsevier | a_61/12153528 |
| Cardiology Network |
 Discuss Axillary artery further in the WikiDoc Cardiology Network |
| Adult Congenital |
|---|
| Biomarkers |
| Cardiac Rehabilitation |
| Congestive Heart Failure |
| CT Angiography |
| Echocardiography |
| Electrophysiology |
| Cardiology General |
| Genetics |
| Health Economics |
| Hypertension |
| Interventional Cardiology |
| MRI |
| Nuclear Cardiology |
| Peripheral Arterial Disease |
| Prevention |
| Public Policy |
| Pulmonary Embolism |
| Stable Angina |
| Valvular Heart Disease |
| Vascular Medicine |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit) and the upper limb. Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first rib, before which it is called the subclavian artery.
After passing the lower margin of teres major it becomes the brachial artery.
Relation to pectoralis minor: division into three parts
The axillary artery is often referred to as having three parts, with these divisions based on its location relative to the pectoralis minor muscle, which is in front of the artery.
- First part - the part of the artery medial to pectoralis minor
- Second part - the part of the artery that lies behind pectoralis minor
- Third part - the part of the artery lateral to pectoralis minor
Relation to nerves and vein
The axillary artery is accompanied by the axillary vein along its length.
In the axilla, it is surrounded by the brachial plexus. The second part of the axillary artery is the reference for the locational descriptions of the cords in the brachial plexus. For example, the posterior cord of the brachial plexus is so named because it lies posterior to the second part of the artery.
Branches
The axillary artery has several smaller branches. The branches can be remembered, in order, when traveling from the heart, with the mnemonic "Screw The Lawyers Save A Patient" or "She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie."[1] It should be noted that the origin of these branches is highly variable (e.g. the posterior and anterior circumflex arteries often have a common trunk). An arterial branch is named for its course, not its origin.
- First part (1 branch)
- Second part (2 branches)
- Third part (3 branches)
Continues as the brachial artery past the inferior border of the teres major.
Clinical Significance
The axillary artery may be safely clamped without endangering the arm, but only in a location proximal to the origin of the subscapular artery. The anastomotic network surrounding the scapula provides an alternate path for collateral circulation to the arm from arteries including the dorsal scapular artery and suprascapular artery.
Additional images
 The veins of the right axilla, viewed from in front. |
 The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front. |
 Suprascapular and axillary nerves of right side, seen from behind. |
References
External links
- Norman/Georgetown lesson3axillaryart&vein
- Duke Orthopedics axillary_artery
- SUNY Labs 05:06-0101 - "Axillary Region: Parts of the Axillary Artery"
- SUNY Figs 05:04-01 - "The axillary artery and its major branches shown in relation to major landmarks."
List of arteries of upper limbs | |
|---|---|
| Axillary | scapular anastomosis - 1st part superior thoracic - 2nd part thoracoacromial (deltoid branch) - lateral thoracic - 3rd part subscapular (circumflex scapular, thoracodorsal) - anterior humeral circumflex - posterior humeral circumflex |
| Brachial | profunda brachii (radial collateral, medial collateral) - ulnar collateral artery (superior, inferior) |
| Radial | forearm: radial recurrent
wrist/carpus: dorsal carpal branch - palmar carpal branch hand: superficial palmar branch - princeps pollicis (radial of index finger) |
| Ulnar | forearm: ulnar recurrent (anterior, posterior) - common interosseous (anterior, posterior, recurrent)
wrist/carpus: dorsal carpal branch - palmar carpal branch hand: deep palmar branch |
| Arches | dorsal carpal arch: dorsal metacarpal (dorsal digital)
superficial palmar arch: common palmar digital (proper palmar digital) deep palmar arch: palmar metacarpal |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
