shoulder and arm Flashcards
axilla: describe the boundaries and contents of the axilla, including the major vessels and relevant parts of the brachial plexus
what is the axilla
gateway between shoulder and arm which acts as a passageway for nerves and blood and lymph vessels to enter and leave upper limb
brachial plexus
roots (formed by anterior rami) -> trunks -> divisions -> cords -> terminal branches (peripheral nerves); C5-T1; pass under clavicle; long thoracic nerve comes off anterior rami roots; subclavian nerve comes off superior trunk of C5,6; pectoral (lateral and medial) nerves; musculocutaneous nerve (medial to arm and forearm), medial nerve (forearm), ulnar nerve, radial nerve
largest nervest of brachial plexus
Axillary nerve (C56) Musculocutaneous nerve (C567) Ulnar nerve (C8T1) Median nerve (C678T1) Radial nerve (C5678T1); posterior muscles of arm and forearm; bang elbow onto ulnar nerve; dislocation of shoulder joint
shape of axilla
truncated pyramid
what composes the base of the axilla
skin, subcutaneous tissue and fascia extending from arm to chest
where does the apex of the axilla lie
between first rib, clavicle and superior border of subscapularis
what composes the anterior wall of the axilla
pectoralis major and pectoralis minor
what composes the posterior wall of the axilla
scapula and subscapularis superiorly, teres major and latissimus dorsi inferiorly
what composes the medial wall of the axilla
chest wall (ribs 1-4), serratus anterior
what composes the lateral wall of the axilla
intertubercular groove of humerus
4 contents of axilla
arteries (axillary artery and its branches), veins (axillary vein and its tributaries), lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes (important), nerves (infraclavicular part of brachial plexus, long thoracic and intercostobrachial nerves)