Axillary Artery (MA)

Question 1

What part of the body does the axillary artery supply

Answer 1

The axillary artery supplies the upper limb

Question 2

Identify the branches of the axillary artery and the muscles that they supply

Answer 2

The axillary artery is divided into 3 sections (the region proximal to the pectoralis minor, the region beneath it, the region distal to it)

1. The first section gives rise to the superior thoracic artery, which supplies the first and second intercostal spaces.
2. The second section gives rise to the thoracoacromial artery and lateral thoracic artery, which has branches:
   a) Pectoral branch: supplies the pectoral muscles and anastomoses with the internal and lateral thoracic arteries

b) Acromial branch: supplies the deltoid and also anastomoses with arteries around the shoulder

c) Clavicular branch: supplies the subclavius and the sternoclavicular joint

d) supplies the deltoid and pectoralis major

3. The third section gives rise to the subscapular artery, the anterior circumflex artery and posterior circumflex artery
   a) The supscapular artery supplies the supraspinatus and the infraspinatus muscles
   b) the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries supply