Axilla

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Ak-SIL-a

Thorax and axilla
Thorax and axilla

Definition[edit | edit source]

The axilla is the area under the arm, also called the armpit or underarm.

Axilla

Boundaries[edit | edit source]

The axilla has an apex, base and 4 walls namely Anterior, posterior, medial and lateral walls

Contents[edit | edit source]

Arteries[edit | edit source]

  • anterior circumflex humeral artery
  • axillary artery
  • circumflex scapular artery
  • lateral thoracic artery
  • posterior circumflex humeral artery
  • subscapular artery
  • superior thoracic artery
  • thoracoacromial artery
  • thoracodorsal artery

Veins[edit | edit source]

Axillary vein is a large blood vessel that conveys blood from the lateral aspect of the thorax, axilla (armpit) and upper limb

Nerves of the Axilla[edit | edit source]

  • axillary nerve
  • brachial plexus
  • dorsal scapular nerve
  • long thoracic nerve
  • medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve
  • medial brachial cutaneous nerve
  • median nerve
  • musculocutaneous nerve
  • pectoral, lateral
  • pectoral, medial
  • radial nerve
  • subclavius m., nerve to
  • subscapular, lower
  • subscapular, middle
  • subscapular, upper
  • suprascapular nerve
  • ulnar nerve

Lymphatics[edit | edit source]

  • axillary nodes
  • axillary nodes, apical
  • axillary nodes, central
  • axillary nodes, humeral (lateral)
  • axillary nodes, pectoral (anterior)
  • axillary nodes, subscapular (posterior)
  • parasternal nodes
  • supraclavicular nodes

Sentinel lymph node[edit | edit source]

A sentinel lymph node is defined as the first lymph node to which cancer cells are most likely to spread from a primary tumor. Sometimes, there can be more than one sentinel lymph node. Since the axillary lymph nodes drain the breast, axillary lymph nodes are often sentinel lymph nodes in cases of breast cancer

See also[edit | edit source]


Axilla Resources

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