TMA- The axilla

Question 1

What is the axilla?

What are the borders that surround it?

Answer 1

The pyramid shaped area that lies under the glenohumeral joint. It has five borders:

Axilla, Lateral border, medial border, anterior border, posterior border

Question 2

What forms the apex of the axilla

Answer 2

Lateral borders of first rib
Superior borders of scapula
Posterior borders of clavicle

Question 3

What forms the lateral border of the axilla

What forms the medial border of the axilla

Answer 3

lateral- formed by the inter-tubular groove of the humerus

medial- serratus anterior and thoracic wall (intercostal muscles and ribs)

Question 4

What forms the anterior border of the axilla?

What forms the posterior border of the axilla?

Answer 4

anterior- pectoralis major, underlying pectoralis minor and subclavious muscles

posterior- subscapularis, teres major, latissimus dorsi

Question 5

What is the function of the axilla?

When is the axilla smallest?

Answer 5

Passage of neurovascular and muscular structrues to enter and exit the upper limb

when the upper arm is abducted

Question 6

What Artery passes through the axilla?

Answer 6

Axillary artery- main artery supplying the axilla, commonly referred as to having a medial, lateral and posterior part in relation to the pectoralis major

Question 7

What vein passes through the axilla?

What plexus travels through the axilla?

Answer 7

Main vein draiing upper limb, two largest tributaries are the cephalic and basilic veins

brachial plexus

Question 8

What lymph nodes travel through the axillary?

Answer 8

Axillary lymph nodes filter fluid tat has drained from the upper limb and pectoral region, axillary lymph enlargement is a non specific indicator of breast cancer as 75% of breast lymphs drain to the axillary

Question 9

What muscles and tendons exist within the axilla?

Answer 9

Biceps brachii (short head) and coracobrachialis- these muscles and tendons move through the axillawheere they attacth to the coracoid process of the scapula

Question 10

What are the three main outlets where structures leave the axilla?

Answer 10

Upper limb

Quadrangular space

Clavipectoral traingle

Question 11

What leaves the axilla via the upper limb

Answer 11

Majority of structures exit inferiorly and laterally here

Question 12

What structures exit through the posterior arm and shoulder?

Answer 12

The axillary nerve passes through the quadrangular space in the posterior wall of the axilla

Question 13

What structures exit through the Clavipectoral triangle

Answer 13

The cephalic veins exit through this opening in the anterior wall of the axilla bound by the pectoralis major, deltoid and clavicle