Axilla and brachial plexus
ANATOMY OF AXILLA
- Anterior: pectoralis major (med/lat pec n), pectoralis minor
- Medial: serratus anterior
- Lateral: humerus
- Posterior: subscapularis, teres major
- Apex: Clavicle, first rib
- Base: Axillary fascia from serratus anterior
Contains - axillary artery, axillary vein, brachial plexus, lymph nodes
AXILLARY ARTERY
Divided into 3 parts as it passes underneat pectoralis minor (much like the lymph nodes) - Subclavian artery becomes axillary as it passes 1st rib
"Screw the lawyers, save a patient"
- 1st part - 1 branch
- Superior thoracic artery - both pectoral muscles
- 2nd part - 2 branches
- Lateral thoracic artery - pectorals + breast
- Thoracoacromial artery - clavicle, deltoid, pectorals, acromion
- 3rd part - 3 branches
- Subscapular artery - lat dorsi
- Anterior circumflex humeral artery
- Posterior circumflex humeral artery
AXILLARY VEIN
- Basilic vein + venae comitantes
- Becomes subclavian vein at outer border of 1st rib
- No axillary sheath around vein
