View source for Axillary artery

{{Use American English|date = January 2019}}
{{Short description|Large blood vessel bringing oxygenated blood to the thorax}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = January 2019}}
{{Infobox artery
| Name        = Axillary artery
| Latin       = arteria axillaris
| Image       = Axillary limits.PNG
| Caption     = '''Axillary artery''' and its branches—anterior view of right upper limb and thorax. Upper and lower limits labeled.
| Image2      = Pectoralis minor.svg
| Caption2    = The [[pectoralis minor muscle]] is used as a landmark for dividing the axillary artery into three parts.
| BranchFrom  = [[Subclavian artery]]
| BranchTo    = [[Superior thoracic artery|Superior thoracic]]<br>[[Thoracoacromial artery|thoracoacromial]]<br>[[Lateral thoracic artery|lateral thoracic]]<br>[[Subscapular artery|subscapular]]<br>[[Anterior circumflex humeral artery|anterior circumflex humeral]]<br>[[Posterior circumflex humeral artery|posterior circumflex humeral]]<br>continues as [[brachial artery]]
| Vein        = [[Axillary vein]]
| Supplies    = [[Axilla]]
}}

In [[human anatomy]], the '''axillary artery''' is a large [[blood vessel]] that conveys oxygenated [[blood]] to the lateral aspect of the [[thorax]], the [[axilla]] (armpit) and the [[upper limb]].  Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first [[rib]], before which it is called the [[subclavian artery]].

After passing the lower margin of [[teres major muscle|teres major]] it becomes the [[brachial artery]].

==Structure==
The axillary artery is often referred to as having three parts,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shi |first=Dongning |last2=Bai |first2=Junwen |last3=Zhang |first3=Lu |last4=Wang |first4=Xia |date=February 2022  |title=The "Hand as Foot" teaching method in axillary artery anatomy |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34973859/ |journal=Asian Journal of Surgery |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=800–801 |doi=10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.12.001 |issn=0219-3108 |pmid=34973859|doi-access=free }}</ref> with these divisions based on its location relative to the [[pectoralis minor]] muscle, which is superficial to the artery.  
* First part – the part of the artery superior to the pectoralis minor
* Second part – the part of the artery posterior to the pectoralis minor
* Third part – the part of the artery inferior to the pectoralis minor.

===Relations===
The axillary artery is accompanied by the [[axillary vein]],<ref name="Ryan 2011">{{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=Stephanie |title=Anatomy for diagnostic imaging |date=2011 |publisher=Elsevier Ltd |isbn=9780702029714 |page=277 |edition=Third |chapter=Chapter 7}}</ref> which lies medial to the artery, along its length.

In the axilla, the axillary artery is surrounded by the [[brachial plexus]].<ref name="Ryan 2011"/> The second part of the axillary artery is the reference for the locational descriptions of the cords in the [[brachial plexus]].  For example, the [[posterior cord]] of the brachial plexus is so named because it lies posterior to the second part of the artery.

===Branches===
[[File:Axillary branches.PNG|thumb|right|350px|Branches of axillary artery]]

The axillary artery has several smaller branches. The branches can be remembered, in order, when traveling from the heart, with the [[mnemonics]] "Screw The Lawyers Save A Patient", "Summertime: The Lakers Schedule Another Parade", "Sixties Teens Love Sex And Pot", or "She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie."<ref>{{MedicalMnemonics|1208|852|663}}</ref>   The origin of these branches is highly variable (e.g. the posterior and anterior circumflex arteries often have a common trunk). An arterial branch is named for its course, not its origin.

* First part (1 branch)
** [[Superior thoracic artery|'''S'''uperior thoracic artery]] (Supreme thoracic artery)<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>
* Second part (2 branches)
** [[Thoraco-acromial artery|'''T'''horaco-acromial artery]]<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>
** [[Lateral thoracic artery|'''L'''ateral thoracic artery]].<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>  If the lateral thoracic artery is not branching from the axillary artery, will most likely branch from the following (in order of likelihood): (1) thoracoacromial, (2) third part of axillary artery, (3) suprascapular artery, (4) subscapular artery
* Third part (3 branches)
** [[Subscapular artery|'''S'''ubscapular artery]]<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>
** [[Anterior circumflex humeral artery|'''A'''nterior humeral circumflex artery]]<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>
** [[Posterior humeral circumflex artery|'''P'''osterior humeral circumflex artery]]<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>

Continues as the [[brachial artery]] past the inferior border of the [[teres major]].<ref name="Ryan 2011"/>

==Clinical significance==

The axillary artery can be safely clamped without endangering the arm, but only in a location proximal to the origin of the subscapular artery (and distal to the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery). The anastomotic network surrounding the scapula provides an alternate path for collateral circulation to the arm from arteries including the [[dorsal scapular artery]] and [[suprascapular artery]].

The right axillary artery is often used as an arterial [[cannula]]tion site in [[cardiac surgery]], particularly for repair of [[aortic dissection]] and replacement of the [[ascending aorta]] and [[aortic arch]].

==Additional images==
<gallery>
 Image:Gray576.png|The veins of the right axilla, viewed from in front. 
 Image:Gray809.png|The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front. 
 Image:Gray810.png|Suprascapular and axillary nerves of right side, seen from behind.
 File:PLEXUS BRACHIALIS.jpg|Brachial plexus and axillary artery
 File:Slide3v.JPG|Axillary artery
File:Slide2bbbb.JPG|Axillary artery
File:Slide9JJJ.JPG|Axillary artery
File:Slide11OOO.JPG|Axillary artery
File:Slide15SSS.JPG|Axillary artery
File:Slide5EEEE.JPG|Axillary artery
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Axillary arteries}}
* {{NormanAnatomy|lesson3axillaryart&vein}}
* {{DukeOrtho|Axillary_artery}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|05|06|01|01}} – "Axillary Region: Parts of the Axillary Artery"
* {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|05|04|01}} – "The axillary artery and its major branches shown in relation to major landmarks."

{{Arteries of upper limbs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Arteries of the upper limb]]
[[Category:Axillas]]