The axillary artery continues as the subclavian artery and extends from the outer border of the first rib to the lower border of teres major muscle. It has three parts separated by the pectoralis minor muscle and gives off several important branches that supply structures in the axilla and upper limb. These branches include the superior thoracic artery, thoracoacromial artery, lateral thoracic artery, subscapular artery, anterior circumflex humeral artery, and posterior circumflex humeral artery. The axillary vein runs medially and accompanies the artery, draining blood from the upper limb into the subclavian vein.

1. Axillary Artery
& Axillary Vein
Dr. Kamil Khan

2. ARTERIES OF UPPER LIMB
Axillary artery
A) Brachial artery
B) Radial artery
C) Ulnar artery

3. AXILLARY ARTERY
 Continuation of the
subclavian artery
 Extent - Outer border of
the 1st
rib to the to the
Lower border of teres
major muscle
 Enclosed in Axillary
sheath

4.  Axillary Artery is
subdivided into 3 parts
by the pectoralis
minor muscle.
-1st
part: proximal
to the muscle
-2nd
part: behind (deep)
to the muscle
-3rd
part: distal to the
muscle
 continues as a Brachial
artery

5. Superior thoracic
artery
1st
part of axillary artery : extends from outer border of first
rib to the upper border of pectoralis minor
Branches(1)
1. Superior Thoracic Artery- Arises near lower border of
subclavius muscle & Supplies thoracic wall and breast

6. Lateral
thoracic
artery
Thoracoacromial
artery
2nd
part of Axillary artery : lies deep to
pectoralis minor
Branches(2)
1.Thoracoacromaial Artery
-Pierces clavipectoral
fascia
Branches:
a. Pectoral
b. Deltoid
c. Acromial
d. Clavicular

7. a. Deltoid - supplies Pectoralis
major and deltoid muscles
b. Clavicular- Sternoclavicular
joint and subclavius
c. Acromial - anastomosis with
deltoid branch
d. Pectoral - supplies Pectoral
muscles and breast

8. 2. Lateral Thoracic Artery
 follows lower border of
pectoralis minor to the
chest wall
 Related to anterior Axillary
lymph nodes
 Larger in females and
supplies branches to
breast
 Anastomoses with internal
thoracic and subscapular
arteries

9. 3rd
part of Axillary artery : extends from lower
border of pectoralis minor upto the level of lower
border of teres major muscle.
Branches(3)
1. Subscapular artery
2. Anterior circumflex humeral artery
3. Posterior Circumflex humeral artery

10. 1. Subscapular artery
 Largest branch of Axillary
artery
 divides into 2 branches
 a. circumflex scapular artery:
content of upper
triangular space
participate in scapular
anastomosis
 b. thoraco dorsal artery:
runs with the thoraco dorsal
nerve
 Reaches inferior angle
of scapula and
anastomoses

11. 2. Anterior circumflex
humeral artery
 winds round the
surgical neck of
humerus bone
 Anastomoses with
posterior circumflex
humeral artery

12. 3. Posterior Circumflex
humeral artery
 Larger than anterior
circumflex humeral
artery
 pass through the
Quadrangular Space
accompanied by
Axillary nerve
 Anastomoses with
anterior circumflex
around surgical neck
of humerus.

13. Relation of Axillary Artery with Brachial Plexus

14. Applied Anatomy of Axillary artery
 Axillary artery pulsation can be felt against lower part of
lat wall of axilla
 In order to check bleeding from distal part of upper limb
the artery can be compressed against humerus against
lower part of lat wall of axilla
 Next to popliteal artery , axill art 2nd
most common art to
be lacerated by violent movements
 Aneurysm of the Axillary artery:-
- Compresses trunks of brachial plexus causing pain
and anesthesia in the areas of the skin supplied by the
affected nerves

15. Scapular Anastomosis
1. In each of subscapular,supraspinous & infraspinous fossae
Arterial anastomosis takes place around scapula between the branches of the
1st
part of subclavian artery and principally 3rd
part of axillary Artery

16.  2. over the Acromion Process

17. Applied Anatomy of Scapular Anastomosis
Collateral circulation

18. Axillary vein:
Formation: union of venae comitantes of the brachial
artery & basilic vein at the lower border of teres major
-Ends at outer border of 1st
rib by becoming the
subclavian vein

19. -runs upwards on the medial side of the axillary artery
Tributaries: -cephalic vein
-veins corresponding to the branches of
axillary artery

20. Vena comitans
•Frequently multiple(2 or3)
•Run with their corresponding
Arteries

21. Applied Anatomy of axillary vein
Axillary venous thrombosis

22. Axillary sheath:
axillary artery and
brachial plexus
enclosed by axillary
fascia called axillary
sheath
-axillary vein is not the
content of axillary
sheath to allow free
expand of vein during
increased venous
return
-

23.  continuous with the prevertebral fascia at the
root of the neck
 Inferiorly, axillary sheath extend upto elbow
Applied-
cold abscess originating from cervical vertebrae
may track down through this sheath

24. Superior thoracic artery
Thoracoacromial artery
Lateral thoracic artery
Subscapular artery
Anterior circumflex humeral artery
Posterior Circumflex humeral artery

26. First part:
•Extends from outer border of 1st
rib to the
upper borded of pectoralis minor
• Relations:
Anteriorly:- pectoralis major and covering
fasciae and skin
-cephalic vein
Posteriorly:- long thoracic nerve
Medially:- axillary vein
Laterally:-three cords of brachial plexus
Branches: -superior thoracic artery, supplies
muscles of 1st
and 2nd
intercostal spaces
Second part:
•Lies behind the pectoralis minor
Relations:
Anteriorly:-pectoralis minor and major
Posteriorly:-posterior cord of brachial plexus
-subscapularis muscle
-shoulder joint
Medially:-axillary vein
-medial cord of brachial plexus
Laterally:-lateral cord of brachial plexus
Third part:
-lower border of pectoralis minor to the
lower
Of teres major
Relations:
Anteriorly:- pectoralis major
-medial root of median nerve
Posteriorly:- subscapularis
-latissimus dorsi
-teres major
-axillary and radial nerves
Medially:- ulnar nerve
-axillary vein
-medial cut. Nerves of arm &
fore arm
Laterally:- coraco brachialis
-biceps
-lateral root of median nerve
-musculo cutaneous nerve

27. Anterior:
 Skin
 Superficial fascia
 Pectoralis major
 Clavipectoral fascia
Posterior:
 1st
intercostal space
 Serratus anterior
 Medial cord of brachial
plexus
Laterally:
Lateral and posterior
cord of brachial
plexus
Medially:
Axillary vein
RELATIONS

28. SKIN
SUPERFICIAL
FASCIA
CLAVIPECTORAL
FASCIA
PECTORALIS
MAJOR
PECTORALIS
MINOR
AXILLARY ARTERY
1ST
RIB
2ND RIB
SUBSCAPULARIS
TERES MAJOR
LATISSIMUS DORSI
SERRATUS ANTERIOR

29. Branches :AXILLARY
A