The axillary artery and vein are major vessels that supply and drain blood to and from the upper limb.

Axillary artery

  • The axillary artery begins at the lateral border of the 1st rib as the continuation of the subclavian artery and ends at the lower border of teres major muscle.
  • Through its course, it can be found posterior to the pectoral muscles within the shoulder and upper arm.
  • At its end, lateral to the teres major muscle, it becomes the brachial artery.

Parts

The axillary artery is divided into three parts based on its position with the overlying pectoralis minor muscle:

  • The first (proximal) part comes before (superomedial to) the pectoralis minor muscle
  • The second (middle) part is beneath (posterior to) the pectoralis minor muscle
  • The third (distal) part comes after (inferolateral to) the pectoralis minor muscle

Branches

Six major branches arise throughout the course of the axillary artery:

  • In the first part, the superior thoracic artery
  • In the second part:
    1. Thoracoacromial artery, passing medially to the pectoralis minor muscle
    2. Lateral thoracic artery, passing laterally to the pectoralis minor

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