Upper Limb Anatomical Areas Flashcards
What are the borders of the axilla region?
Apex: lateral border of the first rib, superior border of scapula, and the posterior border of the clavicle.
Lateral wall: intertubecular groove of the humerus.
Medial wall: serratus anterior and the thoracic wall.
Anterior wall: contains the pectoralis major and the underlying pectoralis minor and the subclavius muscles.
Posterior wall: subscapularis, teres minor and latissimus dorsi.
How does the size of the axilla vary with arm movement?
Decreases in size most markedly with arm fully abducted.
When are the contents of the axilla most at risk?
When the arm is fully abducted.
What are the three main routes by which structures leave the axilla?
Into the upper limb - inferiorly and laterally, majority of contents.
Via the quadrangular space - gap in the posterior wall of the axilla
Clavipectoral triangle - opening in the anterior wall of the axilla.
What structures pass out of the axilla via the quadrangular space?
Axillary nerve, posterior circumflex humeral artery.
What is the clavipectoral triangle bounded by?
The pectoralis major, deltoid, and clavicle.
Which structures enter and leave the clavipectoral triangle?
Enters - cephalic vein.
Leaves - medial and lateral pectoral nerves.
What are the key contents of the axilla region?
Axillary artery, axillary vein, brachial plexus, biceps brachii, coracobrachialis and axillary lymph nodes.
What are the three parts of the axillary artery?
One medial to the pectoralis major, one posterior to pectoralis major and one lateral to the pectoralis major.
What are the key two tributaries of the axillary vein?
Cephalic and basilic.
Where do the biceps brachia and coracobracialis attach?
To the coracoid process of the scapula.
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Where the vessels and nerves in the apex of the axilla get compressed between bones.
What are some causes of thoracic outlet syndrome?
Trauma (e..g fractures clavicle), repetitive lifting of arms.
What is the clinical presentation of thoracic outlet syndrome?
Pain in the affected limb, tingling, muscle weakness and discolouration.
What is axillary clearance and when is it used?
It is removal of the axillary nodes used with patients with confirmed breast cancer to prevent spread through the lymphatics.
What could be damaged in axillary clearance? And what would this lead to?
Long thoracic nerve damage, leading to winged scapula.
Where is the cubital fossa located?
In the depression on the anterior surface of the elbow joint.
What are the border of the cubital fossa?
Lateral border: medial border of the brachioradialis muscle.
Medial border: lateral border of the pronator teres muscle.
Superior border: an imaginary line between epicondyles of the humerus.
What forms the floor of the cubital fossa?
Proximally the brachial, distally the supinator muscle.
What forms the roof of the cubital fossa?
The skin and fascia, reinforced by the bicipital aponeurosis.