In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit) and the upper limb. Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first rib, before which it is called the subclavian artery.
After passing the lower margin of teres major it becomes the brachial artery.
Structure
The axillary artery is often referred to as having three parts,
with these divisions based on its location relative to the
pectoralis minor muscle, which is superficial to the artery.
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First part – the part of the artery superior to the pectoralis minor
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Second part – the part of the artery posterior to the pectoralis minor
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Third part – the part of the artery inferior to the pectoralis minor.
Relations
The axillary artery is accompanied by the
axillary vein,
which lies medial to the artery, along its length.
In the axilla, the axillary artery is surrounded by the brachial plexus.
Branches
The axillary artery has several smaller branches. The branches can be remembered, in order, when traveling from the heart, with the
mnemonics "Screw The Lawyers Save A Patient", "Summertime: The Lakers Schedule Another Parade", "Sixties Teens Love Sex And Pot", or "She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie."
The origin of these branches is highly variable (e.g. the posterior and anterior circumflex arteries often have a common trunk). An arterial branch is named for its course, not its origin.
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First part (1 branch)
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Superior thoracic artery (Supreme thoracic artery)
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Second part (2 branches)
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Thoraco-acromial artery
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Lateral thoracic artery.
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Third part (3 branches)
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Subscapular artery
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Anterior humeral circumflex artery
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Posterior humeral circumflex artery
Continues as the brachial artery past the inferior border of the teres major.
Clinical significance
The axillary artery can be safely clamped without endangering the arm, but only in a location proximal to the origin of the subscapular artery (and distal to the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery). The anastomotic network surrounding the scapula provides an alternate path for collateral circulation to the arm from arteries including the dorsal scapular artery and suprascapular artery.
The right axillary artery is often used as an arterial site in cardiac surgery, particularly for repair of aortic dissection and replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch.
==Additional images==
External links
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– "Axillary Region: Parts of the Axillary Artery"
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– "The axillary artery and its major branches shown in relation to major landmarks."
