Human Anatomy Vol 1

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Coracobrachialis

Musculocutaneous nerve in the upper part (Fig. 4.8).

Lateral root of median nerve in the upper part

Trunk of median nerve in the lower part.

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1 Axillary vein

2 Medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm and ulnar

nerve, between the axillary artery the axillary vein

3 Medial cutaneous nerve of arm, medial to the axillary

vein (Fig.4.9).

Blonches

The axillary artery gives sixbranches. Onebranch arises

from the first part, two branches from the second part,

and three branches from the third part. These are as

follows (Fig. a.10).

Sc"rperfor Ift oraeic Arfery
Superior thoracic artery is a very small branch which
arises from the first part of the axillary artery (near the
subclavius). It runs downwards, forwards and medially,
passes between the two pectoral muscles, and ends by
supplying these muscles and the thoracic wall (Fig. a.10).

flhorae*scroffi?J#l {A crory:ieffi o r ff * I e } Ar t e ry

Thoracoacromial artery is a branch from the second part
of the axillary artery. It emerges at the upper border of

Ventral rami (roots)

Trunks

Divisions

Lateral cord

Coracoid

process

Medial root and

lateral root of

median nerve

Axillary nerve

M usculocutaneous

nerve

Posterior cord

Axillary artery

Medial cord

Ulnar nerve

Median nerve

Radial nerve

Fig. 4.8: Relation of the brachial plexus to the axillary artery.
C5-C8 and T1 are anterior primary rami of respective spinal
segments

AXILLA

the pectoralis minor, pierces the clavipectoral fascia,

and soon divides into the following four terminal

branches.

a. The pectoral branch passes between the pectoral

muscles, and supplies these muscles as well as the

breast.

b. The deltoid branch runs in the deltopectoral groove,

along with the cephalic vein.

c. The acromialbranch crosses the coracoid process and

ends by joining the anastomoses over the acromion.

d. The clauiculnr branch runs superomedially deep to the

pectoralis major, and supplies the sternoclavicular

joint and subclavius.

tsfe Tkorueic Arfery

Lateral thoracic artery is a branch of the second part of

the axillary artery. It emerges at, and runs along, the

lower border of the pectoralis minor in close relation

with the anterior group of axillary lymph nodes.

In females, the artery is large and gives off the lateral

mammary branches to the breast.

Anterior circumflex humeral artery is a small branch

arising from the third part of the axillary artery, at the

lower border of the subscapularis.

It passes laterally in front of the intertubercular

sulcus of the humerus, and anastomoses with the

posterior circumflex humeral arlery, to form an arterial

circle round the surgical neck of the humerus.

It gives off an ascending branch which runs in the

intertubercular sulcus, and supplies the head of the

humerus and shoulder joint.

Posterior circumflex humeral artery is much larger than

the anterior artery. It arises from the third part of the

axillary artery at the lower border of the subscapularis.

It runs backwards, accompanied by the axillary nerve,

passes through the quadrangular intermuscular space,

and ends by anastomosing with the anterior circumflex

humeral artery around the surgical neck of the humerus

(see Figs 6.6 and 6.12).

It supplies the shoulder joint, the deltoid, and the

muscles bounding the quadrangular space.

It gives off a descending branch which anastomoses

with the ascending branch of tl;re profunda brachii artery.

Subscapular artery is the largest branch of the axillary

attery, arising from its third part.

It runs along the lower border of the subscapularis

to terminate near the inferior angle of the scapula.

It supplies the latissimus dorsi and the serratus

anterior.

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