The document describes the anatomy of the axilla, or armpit region. It details the structures that make up the walls of the axilla, including the anterior, posterior, medial and lateral walls. It also lists the contents of the axilla, which include nerves, blood vessels, lymph nodes and fat. The axilla contains 20-30 lymph nodes that drain the upper limb and parts of the chest and drain into 6 groups - anterior, posterior, lateral, central, infrapectoral and apical.

3. DPT 1st Semester
Dr. Saadia Khattak (PT)

4.  Axilla
 Walls of axilla
 Contents of axilla
 Axillary lymph nodes

5.  The axilla or armpit is pyramid-shaped space between upper part of arm
and side of chest
 It has ;
◦ An apex
◦ A base
◦ 4 walls- anterior, posterior, medial & lateral.
 Placed obliquely
 Apex directed upwards & medially towards root of neck
 Base directed downward

6.  It forms an important
passage for nerves, blood
and lymph vessels as they
travel from root of neck to
upper limb

9.  Apex
 Base
 Anterior wall
 Posterior wall
 Medial wall
 Lateral wall

10.  It is directed upward into root of neck
 Bounded in front by clavicle
 Behind is upper border of scapula
 Medially is outer border of 1st rib
 The axillary artery and brachial plexus enter the axilla through this canal

11.  Directed downward
 Formed by skin & fascia
 Bounded in front by anterior axillary fold (lower border of pectoralis
major)
 Behind by posterior axillary fold ( tendon of latissimus dorsi)
 Medially by chest wall

13.  Pectoralis major
 Subclavius
 Pectoralis minor

14.  Subscapularis
 Lattismus dorsi
 Teres major

15.  Upper 4-5 ribs
 Intercostal spaces covered by
serratus anterior muscle

16.  It is very narrow as anterior
& posterior wall converge
on it
 Coracobrachialis
 Short head of Biceps muscle
 Upper part of shaft of
humerus

18.  Axillary artery and its branches
 Axillary vein and its branches
 Brachial plexus
 Axillary lymph nodes
 Axillary fats in which the other contents are embedded

20.  20-30 in number
 Drain from lateral quadrant of breast, thoracoabdominal wall above
umbilicus and vessels from upper limb
 Arranged in 6 groups
1. Anterior group
2. Posterior group
3. Lateral group
4. Central group
5. Infrapectoral group
6. Apical group

22.  Lie along lower border of pectoralis minor behind the major
 Receive lymph vessels from;
 Lateral quadrant of breast
 Upper half of anterior trunk above umbilicus

23.  Lie in front of subscapularis muscle
 Receive lymph vessels from back as far as the iliac crests

24.  Lie along medial side of axillary vein
 Receive most vessels from upper limb

26.  Lie in center of axilla in axillary fats
 Receive lymph from above 3 groups

27.  Not strictly axillary nodes as lie outside
 Lie between deltoid and pectoralis major
 Receive vessels from lateral sides of hand, forearm and arm

28.  Lie at the apex at lateral border of 1st rib
 Receive efferents from other nodes