Axillary artery (Arteria axillaris)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
Runs from the first rib to the lower border of teres major, divided by pectoralis minor into three parts giving six branches to shoulder and axilla; the brachial plexus surrounds it in three cords.
Clinical notes
Axillary node dissection in breast cancer risks its branches and the adjacent long thoracic nerve; injury in posterior shoulder dissection threatens the limb unless immediately repaired.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Axillary artery?
Runs from the first rib to the lower border of teres major, divided by pectoralis minor into three parts giving six branches to shoulder and axilla; the brachial plexus surrounds it in three cords.
Why is the Axillary artery clinically important?
Axillary node dissection in breast cancer risks its branches and the adjacent long thoracic nerve; injury in posterior shoulder dissection threatens the limb unless immediately repaired.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details