TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
- Pyramidal space between upper lateral chest, medial arm, and directly inferior to shoulder joint
- Contains fat, axillary artery and vein, brachial plexus, and axillary lymph nodes
- Apex: Points to base of neck between anterior and middle scalene muscles
- Base: Faces outward and is formed by skin and fascia between pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi
- Anterior: Pectoralis major and minor muscles
- Posterior: Subscapularis muscle on top portion; latissimus dorsi and teres major muscle on bottom
- Inner wall: First 4 ribs and serratus magnus muscle
- Outer wall: Convergence of anterior and posterior boundaries and humerus and biceps muscle
- Contents
- Axillary vessels, brachial plexus, fat, loose connective tissue, axillary nodes, and possible vestigial breast glandular tissue
- Axillary artery: Continuation of subclavian artery starting at border of 1st rib and terminating at border of latissimus dorsi where it becomes brachial artery
- Lateral thoracic artery: Branch of axillary artery that travels at lower border of pectoralis minor muscle
- Axillary vein: Projects medial and inferior to axillary artery; venous branches parallel arterial branches
- Fascia
- Superficial layer (pectoral fascia composed of fascia from pectoralis major and minor muscles)
- Deep layer (clavipectoral or costocoracoid fascia) extending from clavicle to base of axilla
- Nerves
- Medial, lateral, and posterior cords of brachial plexus associated with and named for their relationship to axillary artery
- Branches of brachial plexus: Long thoracic nerve and intercostobrachial nerve
- Prone to injury during axillary dissection
ANATOMY IMAGING ISSUES
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
AXILLARY NODES: SURGICAL STAGING
Selected References
- de Meric de Bellefon M et al: Management of the axilla in the era of breast cancer heterogeneity. Front Oncol. 8:84, 2018
- Grimm LJ et al: Normal axillary lymph node variability between white and black women on breast MRI. Acad Radiol. 25(3):305-8, 2018
- Jatoi I et al: Surgical management of the axilla in early breast cancer. Curr Probl Surg. 55(2):47-65, 2018
- Wai CJ: Axillary anatomy and history. Curr Probl Cancer. 36(5):234-44, 2012
Related Differential Diagnoses
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