Axillary Artery
Axillary Artery
The axillary artery begins at the lateral border of
the 1st rib as a continuation of the subclavian
artery
and ends at the lower border of the teres major
muscle, where it continues as the brachial artery.
Throughout its course, the artery is closel related
to the cords of the brachial plexus and their
branches and is enclosed with them in a
connective tissue sheath called the axillary
sheath.
If this sheath is traced upward into the root
of the neck, it is seen to be continuous with
the prevertebral fascia.
The pectoralis minor muscle crosses in front
of the axillary artery
and divides it into three parts :
First Part of the Axillary
Artery
This extends from the lateral border of
the 1st rib to the upper border of the
pectoralis minor.
Relations
Anteriorly: The pectoralis major and
the skin. The cephalic vein crosses the
artery.
Posteriorly: The long thoracic nerve
Laterally: The three cords of the
brachial plexus
Medially: The axillary vein
Second Part of the Axillary
Artery
This lies behind the pectoralis minor
muscle .
Relations
Anteriorly: The pectoralis minor, the
pectoralis major, and the skin .
Posteriorly: The posterior cord of the
brachial plexus, the subscapularis muscle,
and the shoulder joint
Laterally: The lateral cord of the
brachial plexus .
Medially: The medial cord of the
brachial plexus and the axillary vein
Third Part of the Axillary
Artery
This extends from the lower border of the
pectoralis minor to the lower border of the
teres major.
Relations
Anteriorly: The pectoralis major for a
short distance; lower down the artery, it is
crossed by the medial root of the median
nerve
Posteriorly: The subscapularis, the
latissimus dorsi, and the teres major. The
axillary and radial nerves also lie behind the
artery .
Laterally: The coracobrachialis, the
biceps, and the humerus. The lateral root of
the median and the musculocutaneous
nerves also lies on the lateral side.
Medially: The ulnar nerve, the axillary
vein, and the medial cutaneous nerve of
the arm.
Branches of the Axillary Artery
From the first part:
The highest thoracic artery is small and
runs along the upper border of the
pectoralis minor.
From the second part:
The thoracoacromial artery immediately
divides into terminal branches.
The lateral thoracic artery runs along
the lower border of the pectoralis minor
From the third part:
The subscapular artery runs along the
lower border of the subscapularis muscle.
The anterior and posterior circumflex
humeral arteries wind around the front
and the back of the surgical neck of the
humerus, respectively
