Axilla
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1
What is the anatomical definition of the axilla?
A pyramidal space inferior to the glenohumeral joint and superior to the axillary fascia at the junction of the arm and thorax
2
What is the primary function of the axilla?
Provides a passageway and protection for neurovascular structures serving the upper limb
3
Through which route do neurovascular structures pass superiorly to or from the axilla?
Root of the neck via the cervico-axillary canal
4
Through which structure do neurovascular contents pass anteriorly from the axilla?
Clavipectoral triangle
5
Through which space do neurovascular structures exit posteriorly from the axilla to the scapular region?
Quadrangular space
6
Along what path do neurovascular structures pass inferiorly and medially from the axilla?
Along the thoracic wall to the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi
7
What anatomical boundaries form the apex of the axilla (cervico-axillary canal)?
First rib, clavicle, and superior edge of the scapula
8
What anatomical structures form the base of the axilla?
Concave skin, subcutaneous tissue, and axillary (deep) fascia extending from the arm to the thoracic wall at approximately the 4th rib level
9
What anatomical term describes the armpit formed by the base of the axilla?
Axillary fossa
10
Which muscles and fasciae form the anterior wall of the axilla?
Pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and the pectoral and clavipectoral fasciae
11
What feature is formed by the anterior wall of the axilla?
Anterior axillary fold
12
Which bones and muscles form the posterior wall of the axilla?
Scapula, subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi
13
What feature is formed by the posterior wall of the axilla?
Posterior axillary fold
14
What structures form the medial wall of the axilla?
Thoracic wall (1st to 4th ribs and intercostal muscles) and the overlying serratus anterior
15
What anatomical feature forms the narrow bony lateral wall of the axilla?
Intertubercular sulcus of the humerus
16
What protective structure encases the main neurovascular contents of the axilla?
Axillary sheath
17
What four main structures are contained within the axilla?
Axillary artery and branches, axillary vein and tributaries, axillary lymph nodes embedded in axillary fat, and brachial plexus cords and branches
18
Where does the axillary artery begin?
At the lateral border of the 1st rib as a continuation of the subclavian artery
19
Where does the axillary artery terminate to become the brachial artery?
At the inferior border of the teres major
20
Which muscle divides the axillary artery into three descriptive parts?
Pectoralis minor
21
What anatomical rule relates the part number of the axillary artery to its branching pattern?
The part number indicates the number of branches it gives off
22
What are the anatomical boundaries of the first part of the axillary artery?
Between the lateral border of the 1st rib and the medial border of the pectoralis minor
23
What is the single branch of the first part of the axillary artery?
Superior thoracic artery
24
What area is supplied by the superior thoracic artery?
First and second intercostal spaces and the superior part of the serratus anterior
25
Where is the second part of the axillary artery located?
Posterior to the pectoralis minor
26
What are the two branches of the second part of the axillary artery?
Thoracoacromial trunk and lateral thoracic artery
27
What membrane does the thoracoacromial artery pierce after curling around the superomedial border of pectoralis minor?
Costocoracoid membrane (clavipectoral fascia)
28
What four branches arise from the thoracoacromial artery?
Pectoral, deltoid, acromial, and clavicular branches
29
Which muscle border does the lateral thoracic artery descend along?
Axillary (lateral) border of the pectoralis minor
30
What structure does the lateral thoracic artery supply in females?
Lateral aspect of the breast
31
What are the anatomical boundaries of the third part of the axillary artery?
From the lateral border of pectoralis minor to the inferior border of teres major
32
What are the three branches of the third part of the axillary artery?
Subscapular artery, anterior circumflex humeral artery, and posterior circumflex humeral artery
33
What is the largest branch of the axillary artery?
Subscapular artery
34
What are the two terminal branches of the subscapular artery?
Circumflex scapular artery and thoracodorsal artery
35
Where does the circumflex scapular artery travel to anastomose with the suprascapular artery?
Curves around the lateral border of the scapula into the infraspinous fossa
36
Which nerve does the thoracodorsal artery accompany to enter the latissimus dorsi?
Thoracodorsal nerve
37
What bony landmark do the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries encircle?
Surgical neck of the humerus
38
Through which space does the larger posterior circumflex humeral artery traverse?
Quadrangular space
39
Which spinal nerve anterior rami unite to form the roots of the brachial plexus?
C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1
40
Where do almost all branches of the brachial plexus arise?
In the axilla
41
What anatomical passageway does the brachial plexus traverse to extend from the neck into the upper limb?
Cervico-axillary canal
42
What are the five structural subdivisions of the brachial plexus in sequence?
Roots, trunks, divisions, cords, and terminal branches
43
What are the three trunks of the brachial plexus?
Superior trunk, middle trunk, and inferior trunk
44
How many anterior and posterior divisions are formed in the brachial plexus?
Three anterior divisions and three posterior divisions
45
How are the lateral, posterior, and medial cords of the brachial plexus named?
Based on their anatomical relationship to the axillary artery
46
Through which muscular interspace in the neck do the roots of the brachial plexus pass alongside the subclavian artery?
The gap between the anterior scalene and middle scalene muscles
47
What are the two nerve branches that arise directly from the roots of the brachial plexus?
Dorsal scapular nerve and long thoracic nerve
48
From which root does the dorsal scapular nerve originate?
C5 (with a frequent contribution from C4)
49
Which muscle does the dorsal scapular nerve pierce before descending deep to levator scapulae and rhomboids?
Middle scalene muscle
50
Which muscles are innervated by the dorsal scapular nerve?
Rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, and occasionally levator scapulae
51
What are the root origins of the long thoracic nerve?
C5, C6, and C7
52
What is the anatomical course and muscular target of the long thoracic nerve?
Descends through the cervico-axillary canal posterior to C8 and T1 roots and runs inferiorly on the superficial surface of the serratus anterior to innervate it
53
What two nerves arise as branches of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus?
Suprascapular nerve and subclavian nerve (nerve to subclavius)
54
What are the root fibers of the suprascapular nerve?
C5 and C6 (often receiving fibers from C4)
55
Through which bony landmark does the suprascapular nerve pass inferior to the superior transverse scapular ligament?
Scapular notch
56
Which muscles and joint are innervated by the suprascapular nerve?
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and the glenohumeral joint
57
What structures are innervated by the nerve to subclavius?
Subclavius muscle and sternoclavicular joint (with an accessory phrenic root to the diaphragm)
58
What branch arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus before its terminal branches?
Lateral pectoral nerve
59
What are the spinal cord segment origins of the lateral pectoral nerve?
C5, C6, and C7
60
What structure does the lateral pectoral nerve pierce to reach the deep surface of the pectoral muscles?
Costocoracoid membrane
61
Which muscle is primarily innervated by the lateral pectoral nerve?
Pectoralis major (with communicating fibers to pectoralis minor)
62
What is the terminal branch of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus?
Musculocutaneous nerve
63
Which muscle does the musculocutaneous nerve pierce to exit the axilla?
Coracobrachialis
64
Which muscles are innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve?
Coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and brachialis
65
What is the terminal cutaneous continuation of the musculocutaneous nerve?
Lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm (lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve)
66
How is the median nerve formed?
By the union of the lateral root from the lateral cord and the medial root from the medial cord
67
What are the spinal cord segment origins of the median nerve?
C6, C7, C8, and T1
68
What are the three side branches of the medial cord of the brachial plexus?
Medial pectoral nerve, medial cutaneous nerve of the arm, and medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm
69
What are the root origins of the medial pectoral nerve?
C8 and T1
70
Which muscles are innervated by the medial pectoral nerve?
Pectoralis minor and the sternocostal part of pectoralis major
71
What is the smallest nerve branch of the brachial plexus?
Medial cutaneous nerve of the arm (medial brachial cutaneous nerve)
72
Which intercostal nerve does the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm communicate with?
Intercostobrachial nerve
73
Which vein does the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm accompany through the deep fascia?
Basilic vein
74
What is the larger terminal branch of the medial cord of the brachial plexus?
Ulnar nerve
75
What are the root origins of the ulnar nerve?
C8 and T1 (often receiving fibers from C7)
76
Which forearm muscles are innervated by the ulnar nerve?
Flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar (medial) half of flexor digitorum profundus
77
What is the sensory distribution of the ulnar nerve in the hand?
Skin of the hand medial to the axial line of digit 4
78
What are the three side branches of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus?
Upper subscapular nerve, thoracodorsal nerve, and lower subscapular nerve
79
What are the root fibers and target muscle of the upper subscapular nerve?
C5 and C6; innervates the superior portion of subscapularis
80
What are the root fibers and target muscle of the thoracodorsal nerve?
C6, C7, and C8; innervates the latissimus dorsi
81
What are the root fibers and target muscles of the lower subscapular nerve?
C5 and C6; innervates the inferior portion of subscapularis and teres major
82
What are the two terminal branches of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus?
Axillary nerve and radial nerve
83
What are the root origins of the axillary nerve?
C5 and C6
84
What cutaneous nerve branch arises from the axillary nerve to supply skin over the inferior deltoid?
Superior lateral brachial cutaneous nerve
85
Which muscles and joint are innervated by the axillary nerve?
Teres minor, deltoid, and glenohumeral joint
86
What is the largest branch of the brachial plexus?
Radial nerve
87
What are the root origins of the radial nerve?
C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1
88
What arterial branch accompanies the radial nerve in the radial groove of the humerus?
Deep brachial artery (profunda brachii artery)
89
Which muscular compartments of the upper limb are innervated by the radial nerve?
All muscles of the posterior compartments of the arm and forearm
90
What is the sensory distribution of the radial nerve in the hand?
Dorsum of the hand lateral to the axial line of digit 4
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