Upper Limb 1 Station 1 - The Axilla Flashcards
What is the Axilla, where is it and what does it “do”?
The pyramidal space below the shoulder joint
Lies under the glenohumeral joint
It provides a passageway for vessels and nerves going to and from the upper limb
What specific parts of what two bones make up the glenohumeral joint and what type of joint is it?
Humeral head and the glenoid fossa of the scapula.
Describe the structure and shape of the axilla.
Pyramidal - made up of 4 walls a base and an apex
Anterior wall of the axilla is made up of?
Pectoralis major/minor and subclavius muscles
Posterior wall of the axilla is made up of?
Latissimus dorsi, teres major and subscapularis
Medial wall of the axilla is made up of?
Serratus anterior and the thoracic wall (ribs and intercostal muscles).
Lateral wall of the axilla is made up of?
Intertubercular groove of the humerus.
Name some structures that come through the axilla.
Axillary artery and branches Axillary vein and tributaries Axillary lymph nodes and vessels Brachial Plexus Coracobrachialis and short head of bicep muscles
Pec Major origin and insertion?
Origin - medial third of the clavicle, front of sternum and front of the 1st 6 costal cartilages
Insertion - anterior edge of bicipital groove (also known as intertubercular groove of the humerus.)
Pec major function?
Adducts and medially rotates the upper limb
Pec major innervation?
Lateral and medial pectoral nerves.
Pec minor origin, insertion and function?
Origin - 3rd-5th ribs
Insertion - into the coracoid process of the scapula
Function - Stabilises the scapula
Pec minor innervation?
Medial pectoral nerve
Latissimus dorsi insertion and origin?
Origin - Starts at T7 and goes all the way down to the sacrum
Insertion - fibres converge into a tendon that attaches to the bicipital groove
What does the latissimus tendon spiral round to get to its insertion point?
Teres major muscles
Innervation of latissimus dorsi?
Thoracodorsal nerve
Function of latissimus dorsi?
Extension adducts and medially rotates the upper limb.
The axillary artery is a continuation of which artery?
Subclavian artery
Draw the route of the upper limb arteries extending from the aorta and into the arm. Also - is this “route” symmetrical on both sides?
Use google to check
And no - right side has the brachiocephalic trunk before the right subclavian artery and left does not.
At what anatomical point does the ax. artery become the brachial artery?
Inferior border of the teres major muscles
What is a common infection of the upper limb?
Enlargement of ax. lymph nodes
What may be necessary when profuse bleeding occurs due to severe injury in the upper limb?
Compression of ax. artery