axilla

Question 1

axilla boundaries: apex

Answer 1

• anteriorly: posterior surface of clavicle
• posteriorly: upper border of scapula
• medially: outer border of 1st rib

Question 2

axilla boundaries: base

Answer 2

• anteriorly: anterior axillary fold; lower border of pec major
• posteriorly: posterior axillary fold - tendons of latissimus dorsi and teres major
• medially: chest wall

Question 3

boundaries: anterior wall

Answer 3

pec major, subclavius + pec minor

Question 4

boundaries: posterior wall

Answer 4

subscapularis, latissimus dorsi, teres major

Question 5

boundaries: medial wall

Answer 5

upper 4/5 ribs + intercostal spaces covered by serratus anterior muscle

Question 6

boundaries lateral wall

Answer 6

coracobrachialis + biceps brachii muscles in the bicipital groove of humerus

Question 7

contents of axilla

Answer 7

• axillary arteries + branches
• vein + tributaries
• lymphatic vessels and nodes
• breast
• skin of trunk
• brachial plexus
• contents are all embedded in fat

Question 8

role of pec minor in axilla

Answer 8

• crosses the axilla and divides the area into three subregions (proximal,
  deep, and distal to the muscle)
• useful in describing course of the
  axillary artery and the lymph drainage of the area

Question 9

name axilla lymph groups

Answer 9

• anterior
• posterior
• lateral
• central
• apical

Question 10

anterior group

Answer 10

• located in lower border of pec minor
  receive lymph from:
• lateral quadrant of breast
• anterolateral abdominal wall above level of umbilicus

Question 11

posterior group

Answer 11

• located in front of subscapularis
  receive lymph from
• back, far down as iliac crest

Question 12

lateral group

Answer 12

• located along medial side of axillary vein
  receives lymph from
• upper limb, except superficial vessels draining lateral side ( infraclavicular group)

Question 13

central group

Answer 13

• located in centre of axilla in axillary fat deep to pec minor
• receives lymph from post, ant and lateral groups

Question 14

apical group

Answer 14

• located at apex near lateral border of 1st rib
• receives efferent lymph vessels from all other axillary nodes

Question 15

where do apical lymph nodes drain

Answer 15

into subclavian lymph trunk
- on left side this drains into thoracic duct
- on right side int right lymph trunk
- or directly into large vein at root of neck