Axilla, upper extremity vasculature, cubital fossa, forearm bones and elbow joint Flashcards
What is the four-sided pyramid-shaped region that contains neurovascular structures that pass through the shoulder region?
axilla
What are the neurovascular structures that pass through the axilla enclosed in?
a fascia sleeve called the axillary sheath
What is the axillary sheath a direct continuation of?
the prevertebral fascia of the neck
The axilla is a passage way from the neck to the _____
arm
How many boundaries does the axilla have?
6:
base (floor)
apex (inlet)
anterior wall
posterior wall
medial wall
lateral wall
What forms the base of the axilla?
axillary fascia and skin of armpit
What forms the apex of the axilla?
passageway for structures entering/leaving the shoulder and arm; bounded by the first rib, clavicle, and superior part of scapula
What forms the anterior wall of the axilla?
pectoralis major and minor muscles & clavipectoral fascia
What forms the posterior wall of the axilla?
subscapularis, teres major, latissimus dorsi, and long head of the triceps muscle
What forms the medial wall of the axilla?
upper rib cage and intercostal and serratus anterior muscles
What forms the lateral wall of the axilla?
humerus (intertubercular sulcus)
What are the important structures in the axilla?
- axillary artery
- axillary vein(s)
- axillary lymph nodes
- branches of brachial plexus
- biceps and the coracobrachialis muscle
- axillary tail (of Spence)
How many parts is the axillary artery divided into?
3
How many major collections of nodes are embedded in the axilla?
5 major nodes
What is the extension of the female breast’s upper outer quadrant called?
axillary tail (of Spence)
What does the axillary sheath contain and not contain?
Contains the axillary artery and 3 cords of the brachial plexus
-does not contain the axillary lymph nodes
-sometimes contains the axillary vein
What does adipose tissue provide?
protection, cushioning, thermal regulation, gives off hormones, energy storage
The axillary sheath keeps everything in place and decreases the risk of what?
infection by preventing invaders
What are the 5 lymph node groups in the axilla that are named to reflect their relationship to axillary structures?
- pectoral nodes
- humeral (lateral) nodes
- subscapular nodes
- central nodes
- apical nodes
Where can you find pectoral nodes?
deep to the pectoralis major muscle
What do the pectoral nodes do?
drain the lateral and anterior chest wall, mammary glands, and upper abdominal wall
Where can you find the humeral (lateral) nodes?
on the lateral wall of the axilla
What do the humeral (lateral) nodes do?
receive lymph from the upper limb
Where are the subscapular nodes located?
posterior wall of the axilla
What do the subscapular nodes do?
drain the back muscles
Where are the central nodes located?
along the axillary vessels
What do the central nodes do?
receive lymph from the lateral quadrants of the breast
Where are the apical nodes located?
at the apex of the axilla and continuous with the inferior deep nodes (deep neck)
What do the apical nodes do?
drain the other axillary nodes and structures in the deep neck region
Which nodes are most important and why?
pectoral nodes because they control most of the drainage from the breast
If you remove too many lymph nodes, what condition can this lead to?
lymphedema
What do mammary glands drain into?
clavicular nodes
The axillary artery is the distal continuation of what artery?
subclavian artery
Where does the axillary artery begin?
at the first rib
The axillary artery is divided into 3 descriptive parts by the anterior presence of what muscle?
pectoralis minor muscle
What does the axillary artery continue as distally at the level of the inferior border of the teres major muscle?
continues as the brachial artery
When does the axillary artery stop being called the axillary artery and begins being called the brachial artery?
inferior border of teres major
Where is the 1st segment of the axillary artery located?
between the lateral border of the 1st rib and the medial border of the pectoralis minor
What artery branches off the axillary artery in the 1st segment?
superior thoracic artery
Where is the second segment of the axillary artery located?
Lies posterior to the pectoralis minor
How many branches does the 2nd segment of the axillary artery have?
2
What are the 2 arteries that branch off the 2nd segment of the axillary artery called?
thoracoacromial artery (passes medially to pec minor)
lateral thoracic artery (passes laterally to pec minor)
Where is the 3rd segment of the axillary artery located?
extends from lateral border of the pectoralis minor to inferior border of teres major
How many branches does the 3rd segment of the axillary artery have?
3
What are the 3 arteries that branch off the 3rd segment of the axillary artery called?
subscapular artery
anterior circumflex humeral artery
posterior circumflex humeral artery
What is the largest branch of the axillary artery?
subscapular artery
What does the superior thoracic artery supply blood to?
the first and second intercostal spaces
What does the thoracoacromial artery do?
wraps around proximal border of the pectoralis minor muscle and gives rise to pectoral, acromial, clavicular, and deltoid branches
What does the lateral thoracic artery course with and what does it do?
the long thoracic nerve along the lateral surface of the serratus anterior muscle where it supplies this muscle and surrounding tissue
What artery supplies blood to the serratus anterior muscle?
lateral thoracic artery
What does the thoracoacromial artery supply blood to?
bone and muscle
What does the subscapular artery course along?
the anterior surface of the subscapularis muscle
What does the subscapular artery give rise to?
circumflex scapular artery
thoracodorsal artery
What does the circumflex scapular artery do?
traverses the triangular space to the posterior side of the scapular
What does the circumflex scapulary artery form an anastomosis with?
the suprascapular and dorsal scapular arteries
What does the thoracodorsal artery course with?
thoracodorsal nerve