Clinically significant neurovascular variations in the axilla and the arm – a case report

The axillary artery is the continuation of the subclavian artery beyond the outer border of the first rib. The artery is divided into three parts by the pectoralis minor muscle. The first part of the artery gives superior thoracic artery. The second part of the artery gives lateral thoracic and thoracoacromial branches. The third part gives subscapular, anterior circumflex and posterior circumflex humeral arteries. The axillary vein is the continuation of the basilic vein at the lower border of the teres major muscle. It continues as the subclavian vein at the outer border of the first rib. The median nerve is usually formed just lateral to the third part of the axillary artery by the union of its medial and lateral roots coming from medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus respectively. It then descends down in the front of the arm and crosses the brachial artery from lateral to medial side. It enters the cubital fossa along with the brachial artery. Radial nerve is the largest branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. It lies posterior to the axillary artery initially, and then runs downwards and laterally to enter the posterior compartment of the arm by passing through the lower triangular space, with the profunda brachii artery. The profunda brachii artery is normally a branch of the brachial artery. The musculocutaneous nerve is a branch of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus. It pierces the coracobrachialis muscle and enters the front of the arm. It supplies the biceps, brachialis and coracobrachialis muscles. We saw variations of axillary vessels, radial, median and musculocutaneous nerves in the right upper limb.