Axilla and Cubital fossa

AYY

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
It is a pyramidal space present between the upper part of arm
and chest wall.
Boundaries - It has an apex, a base and 4 walls.
Walls of Axilla;
1. Anterior wall
2. Posterior wall
3. Medial wall
4. Lateral wall

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Base (Floor)
It is directed downwards.
It is formed by skin and axillary fascia.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Anterior wall
Formed by pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, clavipectoral
fascia and subclavius muscle.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Medial wall
Upper four ribs with intercostal muscles.
Upper part of serratus anterior muscle.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Lateral wall
Upper part of shaft of humerus at the region of intertubercular
sulcus (bicipital groove).
Coracobrachialis and biceps brachii muscle.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Posterior wall
Subscapularis (above).
Teres major and latissimus dorsi (below).

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Contents of axilla
1. Axillary artery and its branches,
2. Axillary vein and its tributaries,
3. Brachial plexus (infraclavicular part), three
cords of brachial plexus and their branches,
4. Axillary lymph nodes (Five groups),
5. Fat and areolar tissue..

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
Clinical correlates
1. Abscess in the axilla may arise from infection
and suppuration of particular group of lymph
nodes.
2. Infection of the hair follicle and sebaceous
glands gives rise to boils which are common
in this area.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Axilla (armpit)
3. Examination of axillary lymph nodes is
important in clinical practice since it drains
the whole of upper limb and breast in
addition to the body wall above the level of
umbilicus.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Cubital fossa
It is an area of transition between the arm and forearm.
It is located anterior to the elbow joint.
It is a triangular depression between two forearm muscles.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Cubital fossa
Boundaries
Laterally Brachioradialis (medial border).
Medially - pronator teres (lateral border).

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Cubital fossa
Boundaries
Base Represented by an imaginary line
joining the two epicondyles of humerus.
Apex Meeting point of lateral and medial
boundaries.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Cubital fossa
Boundaries
Roof Skin, superficial fascia with median cubital vein, deep
fascia & bicipital aponeurosis.
Floor Brachialis and supinator muscles.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Cubital fossa
Contents
1. Median nerve.
2. Termination of brachial artery and
beginning of radial and ulnar arteries.
3. Tendon of biceps.
4. Radial nerve.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

Cubital fossa
Clinical correlates
1. The blood pressure is recorded by
auscultating the brachial artery in front
of the elbow.
2. The median cubital vein is often the vein
of choice for intravenous injections.
3. Anatomy of cubital fossa is useful while
dealing with the fractures around the
elbow.

BDS 1210
2014/AYY

References
1. Clinical Oriented Anatomy, K.L.Moore.
2. Human Anatomy, M.McKinley.
3. Atlas of Human Anatomy, F.H.Netter.
4. Atlas of Human Anatomy, Sobotta.