Anat Cell Biol.  2016 Jun;49(2):160-162. 10.5115/acb.2016.49.2.160.

Muscular axillary arch accompanying variation of the musculocutaneous nerve: axillary arch

• Jung SJ
• Lee H
• Choi IJ
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2308924
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2016.49.2.160

Abstract

Continuous attention has been developed on the anatomical variations of the axilla in anatomist and surgeon due to their clinical importance. The axillary region is an anatomical space between the lateral part of the chest wall and the medial aspect of the upper limb. During the routine dissection of embalmed cadavers, we found variant muscular slip originating from the lateral border of tendinous part of the latissimus dorsi and continuing 9 cm more crossing the axilla. And then, it inserted into the superior margin of the insertion of the pectoralis major. We considered this muscular variation as axillary arch muscle. Correct identification of the relevant anatomy and subsequent simple surgical division is curative, paying special attention to anatomical variations in this region and its clinical importance due to its close relationship to the neurovascular elements of the axilla.

Keyword

Axillary arch; Median nerve; Latissimus dorsi muscle; Pectoralis major

MeSH Terms

Anatomists
Axilla
Cadaver
Humans
Median Nerve
Musculocutaneous Nerve*
Superficial Back Muscles
Thoracic Wall
Upper Extremity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photograph (A) and schematic drawing (B) of the axillary arch (AA). Variant muscular slips originated from the lateral border of tendinous part of the latissimus dorsi and then, it inserted into the superior margin of the insertion of the pectoralis major (PM). The musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) arose from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, and it penetrated the coracobrachialis muscle. After that, it merged the median nerve (MN). CBM, coracobracial muscle; LDM, latissimus dorsi muscle.

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