Anatomical Variations of the Axillary Artery of Human Cadavers

Abstract

Anatomical variation is demarcated as the standard discrepancy in the structure and morphology of body arrangements, for instance, arteries and nerves. Numerous variations are benign and can be attributed to changes in the embryologic development. The axillary artery (AA) is an extension of the subclavian artery. Typically, the AA extends from the first rib (outer border) to the teres major muscle (lower border). The pectoralis major divide the AA into three parts, for identification purposes, above (first part), underneath (second part) and below the muscle (third part). From the second part the lateral thoracic artery branches, supplying the pectoralis and serratus anterior muscles. The thoracodorsal artery branches out of the third part of the AA to supply the latissimus dorsi and subscapularis muscles.PURPOSEReport anatomical variations in the axillary arteries explicitly on the second and third division.METHODSThe AA's were dissected by students of the Physical Therapy program at Texas Woman's University Dallas under the supervision of the Anatomist of the same program. The primary technique used was blunt dissection for the identification of the AAs. Out of Ten human anatomical specimens, Three exhibited variations of the AA.RESULTSFirst variations we identified was lateral thoracic artery branched out of the third division of the AA and not the second. Furthermore, from the third division we identified that out of the subscapular artery we had branches for latissimus dorsi (two branches), subscapularis (Thoracodorsal artery) and the Serratus Anterior (two branches) muscles (Lateral thoracic).CONCLUSIONSIt appears that the axillary artery had several deviations from its standard structures. Clinically this variation might not cause any impairment. However, the knowledge of this different arrangements can help prevent unwanted difficulties throughout several interventions.