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Axillary artery
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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The axillary artery (a. axillaris) is a continuation of the subclavian artery (from the level of the 1st rib). It is located deep in the axillary fossa and is surrounded by the trunks of the brachial plexus. At the lower edge of the tendon of the latissimus dorsi, the axillary artery passes into the brachial artery. According to the topography of the anterior wall of the axillary fossa, the axillary artery is conventionally divided into three sections. In the first section, at the level of the clavicular-pectoral triangle, the following arteries branch off from the axillary artery:
- subscapular branches (rr. subscapulares) branch into the muscle of the same name;
- the superior thoracic artery (a. thoracica superior) divides into branches that go into the first and second intercostal spaces, where they supply blood to the intercostal muscles, and also gives off thin branches to the pectoral muscles;
- The thoracoacromial artery (a. thoracoacromialis) branches off from the axillary artery above the upper edge of the pectoralis minor muscle and divides into 4 branches: the acromial branch (r. acromialis) takes part in the formation of the acromial network, which supplies blood to the acromioclavicular joint, as well as, partially, the capsule of the shoulder joint; the clavicular branch (r. clavicularis) is inconstant, supplies the clavicle and subclavian muscle; the deltoid branch (r. deltoideus) supplies blood to the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles and the corresponding areas of the skin of the chest; the pectoral branches (rr. pectorales) go to the pectoralis major and minor muscles.
In the second section, at the level of the thoracic triangle, the following branches off from the axillary artery:
- lateral thoracic artery (a. thoracica lateralis). It descends down the outer surface of the anterior serratus muscle, which it supplies with blood. This artery also gives off lateral branches of the mammary gland (rr. mammarii laterales).
In the inframammary triangle (third section), three arteries branch off from the axillary artery:
- subscapular artery (a.subscapularis) - the largest. It divides into the thoracodorsal artery and the circumflex scapular artery. The thoracodorsal artery (a. thoracodorsalis) runs along the lateral edge of the scapula, supplies the serratus anterior and teres major muscles, as well as the latissimus dorsi. The circumflex scapular artery (a. circumflexa scapulae) passes through a three-sided opening onto the posterior surface of the scapula to the infraspinatus muscle and other adjacent muscles, as well as to the skin of the scapular region;
- the anterior circumflex humeral artery (a. circumflexa anterior humeri) passes in front of the surgical neck of the humerus to the shoulder joint and deltoid muscle;
- The posterior circumflex humeral artery (a. circumflexa posterior humeri) is larger than the previous one, together with the axillary nerve it goes through the quadrilateral opening to the deltoid muscle, anastomoses with the branches of the anterior circumflex humeral artery, supplies the shoulder joint and the adjacent muscles with blood.
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