AXILLARY ARTERY

In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenatedblood 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 it becomes the brachial artery.
Relation to pectoralis minor: division into three parts [edit]
The axillary artery is often referred to as having three parts, 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 medial to pectoralis minor
 Second part - the part of the artery that lies behind pectoralis minor
 Third part - the part of the artery lateral to pectoralis minor
Relation to nerves and vein [edit]
The axillary artery is accompanied by the axillary vein along its length.
In the axilla, it is surrounded by the brachial plexus. 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 [edit]
The axillary artery has several smaller branches. The branches can be remembered, in order,
when traveling from the heart, with the mnemonic "Screw The Lawyers Save A Patient",
"Summertime: The Lakers Schedule Another Parade", or "She Tastes Like Sweet Apple
Pie." [1] 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 (Supreme thoracic artery)
 Second part (2 branches)
 Thoraco-acromial artery
 Lateral thoracic artery. If the lateral thoracic artery is not branching from the
axillary artery, will most likely branch from the following (in order of likelihood): (1)
thoracoacrominal, (2) third part of axillary artery, (3) suprascapular artery, (4)
subscapular artery
 Third part (3 branches)
 Subscapular artery
 Anterior humeral circumflex artery
 Posterior humeral circumflex artery
Continues as the brachial artery past the inferior border of the teres major.
RELATIONS
First Part of the Axillary Artery:
The first part of axillary artery extends between the lateral border of the first rib (the origin of
artery) and the upper border of pectoralis minor muscle.
Relations of the First Part:
Anteriorly:
Skin and the pectoralis major muscles. Artery is crossed by the brachiocephalic vein.
Posteriorly:
Long thoracic nerve supplying the serratus anterior muscle.
Medially:
Axillary vein
Laterally:
Cords of brachial plexus
Branches:
The highest thoracic artery arises from the first part moving along the upper border of
pectoralis minor muscle.
SECOND PART OF AXILLARY ARTERY:
The second part of axillary artery lies behind the pectoralis minor muscle.
Relations of Second Part:
Anteriorly:
Skin, pectoralis major and minor.
Posteriorly:
Shoulder joint, subscapularis and posterior cord of brachial plexus.
Medially:
Axillary vein and medial cord of brachial plexus.
Laterally:
Lateral cord of brachial plexus.
THIRD PART OF AXILLARY ARTERY:
The third part of axillary artery lies between the lower border of pectoralis minor and the lower
border of teres major muscles.
Relations:
Anteriorly:
Medial root of median nerve crosses the artery and pectoralis major is located along its upper
part.
Posteriorly:
Axillary nerve, radial nerve, teres major, latissimus dorsi and subscapularis
Medially:
Medial cutaneous nerve of arm, axillary vein and ulnar nerve.
Laterally:
Humerus, coracobrachialis, biceps, musculocuteneous nerve and lateral root of median nerve.

COURSE
The axillary artery arises as a continuation of the subclavian artery at the lateral border
of the first rib. Its direction varies with the position of the arm, however it always
continues distally from its origin. Whilst at its origin it is deep, it has become superficial
by the time of passing out from the axilla. Throughout the majority of its course it is
covered bypectoralis major, excepting the most distal portion. At the inferior border
of teres major, the artery continues as the brachial artery.
The artery is surrounded by the various parts of the brachial plexus. Proximal
to pectoralis minor, the plexus lies posteriorly and superiorly to the artery, whilst distally
it surrounds the artery as the three cords. Both plexus and artery are surrounded by
the axillary sheath, a continuation of the prevertebral fascia.
The artery is crossed by pectoralis minor, which divides it into three parts: first, second
and third.
First part

THE SARTORIUS MUSCLE

The sartorius muscle – the longest muscle in the human body – is a long thin musclethat runs
down the length of the thigh in the anterior compartment. Its upper portion forms the lateral
border of the femoral triangle.
Origin Anterior superior iliac spine
Superior aspect of the medial surface of the tibial shaft near the
Insertion
tibial tuberosity
Action Flexes and laterally rotates the hip joint and flexes the knee
Innervation Femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4) 

Arterial Supply Muscular branches of the femoral artery

 EXTRAOCULAR OR EXTRINSIC EYE MUSCLES
The extraocular or extrinsic eye muscles, considering their relatively small size, are incredibly
strong and efficient.  There are the six extraocular muscles, which act to turn or rotate an eye
about its vertical, horizontal, and antero-posterior axes:
1. medial rectus (MR),
2. lateral rectus (LR),
3. superior rectus (SR),
4. inferior rectus (IR),
5. superior oblique (SO), and
6. inferior oblique (IO).
Here is a schematic of a left eye, showing how its extraocular muscles insert into the eye:

muscle movements
Eye muscles work together with other eye muscles, of the same eye and the opposite eye, to
move the eyes in various directions.  However, a given extraocular muscle, if working on its own
in isolation (without other extrinsic eye muscles in play), would move the front of an eye in a
specific direction or directions, as follows:
 medial rectus (MR)—
o moves the eye inward, toward the nose (adduction)
 lateral rectus (LR)—
o moves the eye outward, away from the nose (abduction)
 superior rectus (SR)—
o primarily moves the eye upward (elevation)
o secondarily rotates the top of the eye toward the nose (intorsion)
o tertiarily moves the eye inward (adduction)
 inferior rectus (IR)—
o primarily moves the eye downward (depression)
 o secondarily rotates the top of the eye away from the nose (extorsion)
o tertiarily moves the eye inward (adduction)
 superior oblique (SO)—
o primarily rotates the top of the eye toward the nose (intorsion)
o secondarily moves the eye downward (depression)
o tertiarily moves the eye outward (abduction)
 inferior oblique (IO)—
o primarily rotates the top of the eye away from the nose (extorsion)
o secondarily moves the eye upward (elevation)
o tertiarily moves the eye outward (abduction)