Axilla Flashcards
Where is the axilla located?
- underneath the glenohumeral joint
- at the junction of the upper limb and the thorax
What are the four walls of the axilla?
Apex – Also known as the axillary inlet, this is formed by lateral border of the first rib, superior border of scapula, and the posterior border of the clavicle.
Lateral wall– Formed by intertubecular groove of the humerus.
Medial wall– Consists of the serratus anterior and the thoracic wall (ribs and intercostal muscles).
Anterior wall– Contains the pectoralis major and the underlying pectoralis minor and the subclavius muscles.
Posterior wall– Formed by the subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi.
What are the contents of the axilla?
Axillary artery – It is the main artery supplying the upper limb. It is commonly refered as having three parts, one medial to the pectoralis minor, one posterior to pectoralis minor, and one lateral to pectoralis minor. The medial and posterior parts travel in the axilla.
Axillary vein – The main vein draining the upper limb, its two largest tributaries are the cephalic and basilic veins.
Brachial plexus – A collection of spinal nerves that form the peripheral nerves of the upper limb.
Biceps brachii and corocobrachialis – These muscle tendons move through the axilla, where they attach to the coracoid process of the scapula.
Axillary Lymph nodes –The axillary lymph nodes filter lymph that has drained from the upper limb and pectoral region. In women, axillary lymph node enlargement is an non-specific indicator of breast cancer.
