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The armpit, also known as the axilla, is a pyramid-shaped area located between the shoulder girdle and thorax. It is a passageway for neurovascular and muscular structures to enter and leave the upper limb. The axilla includes the axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle between the arm and the thoracic cage. The axilla contains muscles, nerves, vessels, and lymphatics. The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles stretch from the armpit to the collarbone and down across the lower chest region on both sides of the chest. Other muscles in the axilla include the subscapularis, teres major, latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, and coracobrachialis. These muscles assist with scapula depression, helping to reduce neck tension and prevent shoulder injuries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | Directly under the shoulder joint |
| Shape | Pyramid-shaped |
| Function | Serves as a space for neurovascular, muscular, and lymphatic structures to travel through to reach the upper extremity from the neck |
| Muscles | Pectoralis major, Pectoralis minor, Subscapularis, Teres major, Latissimus dorsi, Biceps Brachii, Coracobrachialis, Serratus anterior |
| Nerves | Brachial plexus, Medial and lateral pectoral, Medial cutaneous of arm and forearm, Upper and lower subscapular, Thoracodorsal |
| Vessels | Axillary artery, Axillary vein, Cephalic vein, Basilic vein |
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What You'll Learn
- The axilla, or armpit, is a pyramid-shaped area between the shoulder girdle and thorax
- The axilla contains the axillary artery, the main artery supplying the upper limb
- The axilla includes the axillary vein, the main vein draining the upper limb
- The axilla contains the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles
- The axilla is important for the function of the shoulders and arms
The axilla, or armpit, is a pyramid-shaped area between the shoulder girdle and thorax
The axilla serves as a passageway for neurovascular and muscular structures to enter and exit the upper limb. It contains the axillary artery, which is an extension of the subclavian artery, and the axillary vein, which receives deoxygenated blood from the cephalic and basilic veins. The axillary vein becomes the subclavian vein after exiting the apex of the axilla. The axillary region also includes the brachial plexus, which gives rise to peripheral nerves that supply the muscles of the shoulder girdle and chest.
The axilla is associated with the lymphatic system, containing axillary lymph nodes and vessels that process lymph from the upper extremity and chest. In the case of breast cancer, cancerous cells can spread to the axillary lymph nodes, requiring their removal to prevent further spread. This procedure is known as axillary clearance.
The axilla is also known for its role in body odor production, with the formation of odorant substances that may potentially act as pheromones. Additionally, the underarm area is ticklish due to the number of nerves it contains. The axilla region's size and shape vary with arm abduction, and it can be susceptible to compression when the arm is fully abducted.
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The axilla contains the axillary artery, the main artery supplying the upper limb
The axilla, or the armpit, is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. The axilla contains the axillary artery, which is the principal arterial supply of the upper limb. The axillary artery is a large muscular vessel that travels through the axilla, carrying oxygen-rich blood to the upper limb. It also supplies parts of the musculocutaneous system of the scapula and upper lateral thorax.
The axillary artery is surrounded by the brachial plexus, and the second part of the artery is the reference point for the locational descriptions of the cords in the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is intimately related to the vascular structures of the axilla, with its divisions emerging deep below the clavicle to form the medial, lateral, and posterior cords around the axillary artery. The axillary artery is an important landmark for understanding the position of other structures in the region.
The axillary artery has several smaller branches, and the order of these branches can be remembered with various mnemonic devices. For example, the branches can be recalled with the phrase "Screw The Lawyers Save A Patient". The axillary artery gives off six branches before terminating at the lower border of the teres major muscle, where it becomes the brachial artery, which supplies the distal upper limb.
The axillary artery is critical in trauma management as traumatic disruptions can cause severe bleeding or ischemia in the upper limb. It is also important during surgical procedures, such as bypass grafting, shoulder operations, and axillary lymph node dissections. The right axillary artery, in particular, is often used as an arterial cannulation site in cardiac surgery.
The underarm or axilla contains several muscles, including the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi, which are important for the function of the shoulders and arms.
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The axilla includes the axillary vein, the main vein draining the upper limb
The axilla, or armpit, is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. It is a passageway by which neurovascular and muscular structures can enter and leave the upper limb. The axilla includes the axillary vein, which is a deep vein of the upper limb. It is formed by the union of the brachial and basilic veins. The axillary vein drains deoxygenated blood from the arm, axilla, and superolateral chest wall. It also receives contributions from the thoracoepigastric vein of the anterolateral abdominal wall.
The axillary vein is one of the major veins of the upper limb. It starts at the lower border of the teres major muscle and ascends medially through the axilla towards the first rib, where it is continued by the subclavian vein. Along its course, the axillary vein lies anteromedial to the axillary artery, partially overlapping it. The axillary vein receives tributaries that correspond to the branches of the axillary artery, including the subscapular, circumflex humeral, lateral thoracic, thoracoacromial, and cephalic veins.
The axilla also includes other important structures such as the axillary artery, the brachial plexus, lymph nodes, and fat. The axillary artery and vein travel in a bundle with several neurovascular structures of the axilla, including the lateral and medial pectoral nerves, the medial cord of the brachial plexus, the ulnar nerve, and the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm.
The axilla is bounded by several muscles, including the serratus anterior muscle, the thoracolumbar fascia, the pectoralis muscles, the subscapularis muscle, the teres major muscle, and the latissimus dorsi muscle. These muscles are important for the function of the shoulders and arms, and their improper utilization can lead to overuse of the neck and front of the shoulders, resulting in neck tension and contributing to shoulder injuries.
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The axilla contains the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles
The axilla, or armpit, is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. It includes the axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle between the arm and the thoracic cage. The axilla contains several muscles, including the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles.
The pectoralis major is a powerful fan-shaped muscle that aids in rotating the arm inward and moving it closer to the body. It originates from two points: the sternum (breastbone) and the clavicle (collarbone). These two sections of the muscle come together into the pectoralis major tendon, which connects the muscles to the humerus bone of the upper arm, near the biceps tendon. The pectoralis major moves each shoulder joint in four distinct directions and also keeps the arms attached to the body. It is best known as the muscle that you develop with bench press exercises.
The pectoralis minor is a triangular-shaped muscle located under the pectoralis major. It forms the anterior wall of the axilla along with the pectoralis major. The pectoralis minor originates from the margins of the third to fifth ribs adjacent to the costochondral junction. Its fibres pass upward and laterally to insert into the medial border and superior surface of the coracoid process of the scapula. The pectoralis minor is crucial in the stabilization of the scapula by pulling it downward and anteriorly against the thoracic wall. It also works with the serratus anterior muscle to create a full range of movement for the scapula.
Injuries to the pectoralis major muscle and tendon are relatively rare but can be disabling. Tears can occur when a force goes through the muscle and tendon that is greater than they can withstand, such as during weight training or contact sports. A tear can also occur when the muscle contracts while stretching out. Tears typically result in a change in the shape of the chest wall and armpit on the injured side, as well as swelling and bruising. Treatment options for pectoralis major tears include both non-surgical and surgical methods, depending on the severity of the injury and the patient's health and activity level.
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The axilla is important for the function of the shoulders and arms
The axilla, or armpit, is an anatomical region under the shoulder joint where the arm connects to the shoulder. The axilla is important for the function of the shoulders and arms as it contains a variety of neurovascular structures, including the axillary artery, axillary vein, brachial plexus, and lymph nodes. The axilla also contains important muscles such as the pectoralis major and minor, which make up the anterior wall of the axilla. The pectoralis major is a powerful muscle that aids in rotating the arm inward and moving it closer to the body. It also moves the shoulder joint in four distinct directions and keeps the arms attached to the body.
The axilla also contains the serratus anterior muscle, which is important for scapula depression, a movement that can help reduce neck tension. The latissimus dorsi, teres major, and subscapularis muscles comprise the posterior wall of the axilla. These muscles function to internally rotate and adduct the arm. The axilla is a passageway by which neurovascular and muscular structures can enter and leave the upper limb.
The axilla is also important for emitting body odour, which may be related to human bipedalism. Approximately 75% of lymph from the breast drains into the axilla lymph nodes, so they can be biopsied if breast cancer is suspected. If breast cancer is confirmed, the axillary nodes may need to be removed to prevent the cancer from spreading. This procedure is called axillary clearance.
The axilla contains the axillary nerve, which starts in the neck and extends to the shoulder. It helps to move muscles in the upper limbs and provides sensation to this area. The axillary nerve can be injured in accidents where the head and shoulder move abruptly in opposite directions, such as falls or dislocated shoulders.
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Frequently asked questions
The axilla, or armpit, contains the pectoralis major and the underlying pectoralis minor and the subclavius muscles. The posterior wall of the axilla is formed by the subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi. The serratus anterior muscle and the lats are also located in the underarm/back area.
The armpit muscles are important to the function of the shoulders and arms. Without proper utilisation of these muscles, the neck and the front of the shoulders may be overused, causing severe neck tension and contributing to shoulder injuries.
One exercise that can help strengthen the armpit muscles is called "hand pumps supine". This exercise uses mini balls, but you can also use two soup cans. Place your hands on the sides of the cans and roll them away from your shoulders.
