Axillary and Brachial plexus Flashcards
What is the axilla?
Region under the armpit which is an important anatomical point for structures that control the upper limb.
What does the axilla contain?
Axillary artery
Axillary vein
Axillary lymph nodes
Brachial plexus
Muscles:
Biceps brachii
Coracobrachialis muscle
What are the relations to the apex of the axilla?
Border of 1st rib, clavicle, coracoid process and superior border of scapula.
What are the relations to the anterior of the axilla?
Pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles and subclavius muscle.
What are the relations to the medial border of the axilla?
Ribs, intercostal muscles and serratus anterior.
What are the relations to the lateral border of the axilla?
Intertubular groove of humerus.
What are the relations to the posterior border of the axilla?
Lattisimus dorsi, teres major and subcapsularis muscle.
What are the axillary lymph nodes?
Drain the breast and upper limb and consist of 5 groups:
Apical/infraclavicular
Anterior/pectoral
Central
Lateral
Posterior/subcapsular
What axillary lymph node is most clinically relevant?
Axillary lymph node drains into the
R: Subclavian duct
L: Thoracic duct
Cancers of the breast which spread here can metastasise easily.
What is the direction of drainage in the axillary lymph nodes?
They drain into the central lymph node or apical lymph node. Central drains into the apical lymph node.
What is the brachial plexus?
Group of nerves innervating the upper limb which arise from C5,C6, C7, C8 and T1. It is located between the anterior and posterior scalene muscles.
Which nerve comes off C5?
Dorsal scapulae nerve which innervates the rhombdoid major, rhombdoid minor and levator scapulae.
Which nerve arises from C5, C6 and C7?
Long thoracic nerve which innervates the serratus anterior
What are the components of the brachial plexus?
C5 and C6 form the upper trunk
C7 forms the middle trunk
C8 and T1 forms the lower trunk
Which nerves arise from the upper trunk?
Suprascapular nerve
Subclavius nerve
What is the supracapsular nerve?
Innervates the supraspinatous muscle and infraspinatous muscle and shoulder joint.
What is the subclavius nerve?
Innervates the subclavius muscle to depress the clavicle.
What are the cords of the brachial plexus?
Lateral cord
Posterior cord
Medial cord
What is the lateral cord?
Formed of the anterior divisions of the upper and middle trunk (C5-C7)
What is the posterior cord?
Formed of the posterior divisions of all 3 trunks. (C5-T1)
What is the medial cord?
Formed of the anterior division of the lower trunk. (C8-T1)
Which nerve comes off the lateral cord?
Lateral pectoralis nerve supplying the pectoralis major muscle.
What forms the musculocutaneous nerve?
Lateral cord
-> Anterior division of upper and middle trunk (C5-C7)
What is the function of the musculocutaneous nerve?
Sensation of the lateral forearm
Innervation of elbow flexor muscles: Coracobrachialis, brachialis and biceps brachii
Which nerve comes off the posterior cord?
Upper Subscapular nerve
Thoracodorsal nerve
Lower subscapular nerve
What is the upper subcapsular nerve?
Innervates subcapsularis muscle for internal rotation at shoulder joint
Works with lower subcapsular nerve to innervate the teres major.
-> Branch of posterior cord
What is the thoracodorsal nerve?
Innervates the lattisimus dorsifor medial rotation, extension and adduction of shoulder.
-> Branch of posterior cord
What is the lower subcapsular nerve?
Innervates the teres major and subscapularis along with the upper subcapsular nerve.
-> Branch of posterior cord