Anatomy lecture about axilla

1. GROUP-04
UZAIR HABIB 14415
AHMAD HASSAN 14504
ADNAN YOUSAFZAI 14457
ANATOMY PRESENTATION
TOPIC AXILLA

2. AXILLA
WORD ORIGINATION:
The word Axilla is derived from latin word which means side / armpit.
The axilla is the name given to an area that lies underneath the glenohumeral
joint.
INTRODUCTION:
The axilla is an anatomical region under the shoulder joint where the arm connects to the
shoulder.
Generally axilla is an our armpit.
It contains a variety of neurovascular structures, including the axillary artery, axillary vein, brachial plexus, and
lymph nodes.

3. AXILLA
SHAPE:
The axilla is shaped like a pyramid that has an apex, a base, and four
walls.

4. PYRAMIDAL SHAPE OF AXILLA:

5. BORDERS OF AXILLA:
There are 06 anatomical borders of axilla.
1. Apex
2. Base
3. Anterior wall
4. Posterior wall
5. Medial wall
6. Lateral wall

6. 1. APEX:
The apex of the axilla is also called the cervico-axillary canal, which is the door
between the neck and the axilla.
LOCATION:
The apex of am axilla is present just upward , medially and
continues to the root of neck.
Present superiorly.
SHAPE:
Having a triangular shape.
Just like a blunt shaped structure

8. BORDERS OF APEX:
The apex is covered by following bones.
1. Anteriorly covered by clavicle (Posterior surface)
2. Posteriorly covered by scapula & caracoid process (superior surface)
3. Medially covered by first rib (outer border of 1st rib)
NEUROMUSCULAR STRUCTURES:
Through this apex 03 important neurovascular structures are
passes.
1. Axillary artery
2. Axillary vein
3. Brachial plexus

9. 02.BASE OF AXILLA:
The base of the axilla is formed by skin, subcutaneous tissue, and axillary fascia, and
forms what is called the axillary fossa, or what we know as the armpit.
The base is broad at chest side while thin at arm side.
BORDERS OF BASE:
The base is formed by :
• Skin
• Superficial fascia
• Axillary fascia
The base is concave shaped (directed upward)

10. 03.ANTERIOR WALL:
The anterior wall is made up by two muscles.
1. pectoralis major.
2. pectoralis minor.
3. Clavicle pectoral major.
Beside this two nerves are also present which are lateral & medial pectoral
nerve(innervate the pect minor & major)

11. 04.POSTERIOR WALL:
The posterior wall is made by three muscles.
1. Teres major muscle.
2. Subscapularis muscle.
3. Latissimus dorsi muscle.
This are actually muscles of scapula.

12. 05.MEDIAL WALL:
The medial wall of an axilla covered by:
1. Ribs (first 04)
2. Serratus anterior.
Nerve which innervate the serratus anterior muscle.

13. 06.LATERAL WAL:
The lateral wall of an axilla is formed by following muscles
1. Bicep bracii (short head)
2. Coracobrachialis
Also the head of humerus bone is present on the lateral side.

16. CONTENTS OF AXILLA:
The contents of the axilla region include muscles, nerves, vessels, and
lymphatics.
The total contents of an axilla is 05 in number which is:
1. Axillary artery (and branches)
2. Axillary vein (and tributaries)
3. Brachial plexus (and branches)
4. Axillary lymph nodes
5. Biceps brachii (short head) and coracobrachialis.

17. 01: Axillary artery (and branches)
The main artery supplying the upper limb.
It is commonly referred as having three parts;
• one medial to the pectoralis minor.
• one posterior to pectoralis major.
• The medial and posterior parts travel in the axilla.

18. 02: Axillary vein (and tributaries)
03:Brachial plexus (and branches)
 The main vein draining the upper
limb, its two largest tributaries are
the cephalic and basilic veins.
03
 A collection of spinal nerves that
form the peripheral nerves of the
upper limb.
02

19. 04: Axillary lymph nodes
05: Biceps brachii (short head) and coracobrachialis
04. They filter lymphatic fluid that has
drained from the upper limb and
pectoral region.
Axillary lymph node enlargement is a
non-specific indicator of breast
cancer.
05. – These muscle tendons move
through the axilla, where they attach
to the coracoid process of the scapula.

20. LAYOUT:
The first three axillary artery , vein & brachial plexus of nerve run into apex
toward base in lateral wall of axilla.
Provide supply to the arm.
Medial wall of axilla is avascular except few small branches from superior
thoracic artery.

21. Pathologies of axilla:
Usually pathologic changes of the axilla are due to diseases of the lymph nodes.
Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit can be a sign of common viral infections, such
as the flu or mono.
They can also occur as a result of a bacterial infection.
In some cases, swollen lymph nodes are a symptom of cancer.

22. Infections or medical conditions that
may cause lymph node swelling in
the axillary include:
• Breast infections.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Herpes simplex.(Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Mononucleosis (“mono”)
• Arm infections.
• Cat scratch disease.
• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

23. Axillary nerve dysfunction:
Axillary nerve dysfunction is nerve damage that can lead to a loss of movement
or sensation in the shoulder.
Conditions associated with axillary nerve dysfunction include fracture of the
humerus (upper arm bone), pressure from casts or splints, and improper use of
crutches.

24. CAUSES:
• Body-wide (systemic) disorders that cause nerve inflammation.
• Deep infection.
• Fracture of the upper arm bone (humerus)
• Pressure from casts or splints.
• Improper use of crutches.
• Shoulder dislocation.

25. Axillary artery injury:
Axillary artery injury due to blunt trauma resulting in proximal humeral fractures
is even more uncommon.
Humeral neck fractures with hyper abduction and traction injuries to the
shoulder are a well known cause.
The axillary artery is divided into three segments by the pectoralis minor
muscle.
If this axillary is damage so the blood supply to the upper arm stop as a result
upper arm lose their function.