The axillary artery is the continuation of the subclavian artery in the axilla. It passes through the axilla from the outer border of the first rib to the lower border of the teres major muscle, where it becomes the brachial artery. The pectoralis minor muscle divides the axillary artery into three parts, with each part giving off branches to surrounding muscles and structures. The axillary artery and its branches have important relationships that are relevant for clinical procedures.

1. AXILLARY
ARTERY Dr. Heta Patel(PT)
Assistant Professor
ARIP
CHARUSAT

2. OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
BRANCHES
PARTS OF AXILLARY ARTERY
APPLIED ANATOMY
MNEMONICS
SUMMARY

3.  Continuation of subclavian artery
 Exteds from outer border of 1st rib upto lower border of Teres
major muscle
 Continues as brachial artery
 Closely related to brachial plexus cords
 Pectoralis minor muscle divides the artery into 3 parts.

5.  1st part:
Superior Thoracic artery
 2nd part:
Acromiothoracic artery
Lateral Thoracic artery
 3rd part:
Subscapular artery
Ant circumflex humeral artery
Post circumflex humeral artery

8.  Superior Thoracic A:
o Small branch
o Between Pect. Major & Minor
o Supplies them & thoracic wall

9.  Given at upper border of pect. minor
 Four terminal branches:
1. Pectoral – supplies pectoral muscles as well as
breast
2. Deltoid -
3. Acromial - joins the anastomosis over
acromian process
4. Clavicular – supplies sternoclavicular joint and
subclavius

10.  Given at Lower border of pect. minor
 Ant. axillary LN lies along it
 Larger in females, supplies breast tissue

11.  Largest branch
 Runs along Lower border of subscapularis
 Terminates near inferior angle of scapula
 Gives Circumflex Scapular Artery-
 Passes through triangular intermuscular space
 Winds around lateral border of scapula, deep
to teres minor
 Takes part in anastomosis around
scapula

12.  Given at the lower border of subscapularis
 Winds around surgical neck of humerus
 Anastomoses with post circumflex humeral Artery
 Ascending branch

13.  Larger
 Runs backward, through quadrangular space along with
Axillary N
 Supplies shoulder joint, Deltoid mus.

14.  ANTERIORLY
 (i) Skin.
 (ii) Superficial fascia
 (iii) Deep fascia.
 (iv) Clavicular part of the pectoralis major.
 (v) Clavipectoral fascia with cephalic vein, lateral pectoral
nerve, and thoracoacromial vessels.

16. POSTERIORLY
 (i) First intercostal space with the external intercostal muscle.
 (ii) First and second digitations of the serratus anterior with
the nerve to serratus anterior.
 (iii) Medial cord of brachial plexus with its medial pectoral
branch

17. LATERALLY
 Lateral and posterior cords of the brachial plexus.
 Medially
 Axillary vein
 The first part of the axillary artery is enclosed (together with
the brachial plexus) in the axillary sheath, derived from the
prevertebral layer of deep cervical fascia.

18. ANTERIO
RLY
 (i) Skin.
 (ii) Superficial fascia.
 (iii) Deep fascia.
 (iv) Pectoralis major.
 (v) Pectoralis minor

20. Posteriorly
 (i) Posterior cord of brachial plexus.
 (ii) subscapularis
Medially
 (i) Medial cord of brachial plexus,
 (ii) Medial pectoral nerve,
 (iii) Axillary vein.
Laterally
 Lateral cord of brachial plexus.

21. 
ANTERIOR
LY
 (i) Skin.
 (ii) Superficial fascia, (iii) Deep fascia.
 (iv) In the upper part there are the pectoralis major and medial root of the median nerve.
 Posteriorly
 (i) Radial nerve.
 (ii) Axillary nerve in the upper part, (iii) Subscapularis in the upper part, (iv) Tendons of the latissimus dorsi
and the teres major in the lower part.

24.  LATERALLY
(i) Coracobrachialis.
(ii) Musculocutaneous nerve in the upper part,
(iii) Lateral root of median nerve in the upper part,
(iv) Trunk of median nerve in the lower part.
 Medially
 (i) Axillary vein,
 (ii) Medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm and ulnar nerve
 (iii) Medial cutaneous nerve of arm

25.  Axial artery pulsastion can be felt against
the lower part of the lateral wall of axilla
In order to check bleeding from the distal part of limb
- The artery can be compressed against the humerus in the
lower part of the lateral wall of axilla

26. Thank you