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Variant axillary artery – a case report


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Category
Articles
Publisher
Radiance Research Academy
Publishing Date
01-Nov-2012
volume
4
Issue
21
Pages
102-108

During routine dissection for the undergraduate medical students, we observed the variations in the course and distribution of axillary artery in the right upper limb of a 80 years old donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, K. J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India. In the present case the axillary artery, 1cm distal to the outer border of first rib divided into superficial and deep brachial arteries. The superficial brachial artery continued as brachial artery proper and divided at the level of neck of radius into radial and ulnar arteries. The deep brachial artery performed the role of axillary artery in the axilla. It gave rise to all branches which are usually given by the axillary artery. The deep brachial artery first gave superior thoracic, thoracoacromial, lateral thoracic artery & articular branch to the shoulder joint. It then divided into anterior & posterior divisions. The anterior division gave anterior circumflex humeral, posterior circumflex humeral and profunda brachii artery. The posterior division continued as the subscapular artery and it gave rise to the circumflex scapular and thoracodorsal arteries. The deep brachial artery giving rise to all branches which are normally given by first, second and third part of axillary artery is very rare and not found in literature. The profunda brachii artery arising from anterior division of deep brachial artery is also very rare and not found in literature. The axillary vein was on medial side of superficial brachial artery in the arm. The cords of brachial plexus were around the superficial and deep brachial artery. The origin, course and distribution of axillary artery was normal on the left side of the same male cadaver. The photographs of the variations of axillary artery were taken for proper documentation and for ready reference. Conclusion: Topographical anatomy of the normal and abnormal variations of the axillary artery is clinically important for surgeons,