Variation in the branching pattern of axillary artery – a case report

Introduction The axillary artery and its gross anatomy are well known to anatomists. The artery begins as a continuation of subclavian artery at the outer border of first rib and ends by becoming the brachial artery at the inferior border of teres major. The course of the artery varies with the position of the arm in relation to the body. When the arm is held at right angles to the body, the artery is almost straight; when the arm is raised above the head, the artery is concave upwards; when the arm is held beside the body, the artery is concave downwards [1]. During its course, the artery passes deep to the pectoralis minor muscle, a fact that is used to divide the artery into three parts, proximal, posterior and distal to the muscle. The axillary artery is conveniently described as giving six branches, but this is subject to considerable variations; two or more of its standard branches may arise from a common trunk or a new artery may arise separately. The commonly named branches of axillary artery are superior thoracic, thoraco-acromial, lateral thoracic, subscapular, anterior circumflex humeral and posterior circumflex humeral artery [2].