Maximus Gage
The underarm, also known as the armpit or axilla, is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. The axilla includes the axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle between the arm and the thoracic cage. The underarm is a ticklish area due to the number of nerves it contains. It also contains many muscles that are important to the function of the shoulders and arms. These include the serratus anterior, lats, trapezius, pectoralis minor, and pectoralis major.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | Directly under the shoulder joint |
| Contains | Axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle |
| Bounded superiorly | Imaginary plane between the superior borders of the first rib, clavicle and scapula |
| Medially bounded | Serratus anterior muscle and thoracolumbar fascia |
| Anteriorly bounded | Pectoral muscles |
| Posteriorly bounded | Subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi muscle |
| Skin | Soft and contains many hair and sweat glands |
| Body odour | Formation of body odour happens in the underarm |
| Ticklish | Contains many nerves |
| Hair | Underarm hair usually grows in both females and males, beginning in adolescence |
| Muscle strain | Any muscle in and around the armpit can become painful due to muscle strain |
| Muscles | Lattitimus dorsi, trapezius, pectoralis minor and serratus anterior |
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What You'll Learn
- The axilla (armpit) includes the serratus anterior muscle and thoracolumbar fascia
- The axilla also includes the subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi muscles
- The axilla is important for emitting body odour
- The axilla contains the axillary vein and artery, brachial plexus, lymph nodes and fat
- The axilla is a ticklish area due to the number of nerves it contains
The axilla (armpit) includes the serratus anterior muscle and thoracolumbar fascia
The axilla, also known as the armpit, underarm, or oxter, 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 is bounded superiorly by the plane between the superior borders of the first rib, clavicle, and scapula. It is bounded medially by the serratus anterior muscle and thoracolumbar fascia, bounded anteriorly by the pectoral muscles, and bounded posteriorly by the subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi muscles.
The serratus anterior muscle is one of the muscles that move the shoulder and arm, along with the trapezius muscle. The serratus anterior muscle is located in the underarm/back area, along with the latissimus dorsi muscle. These muscles are important for the function of the shoulders and arms. Without proper utilisation of these muscles, the neck and front of the shoulders can be overused, leading to severe neck tension and contributing to shoulder injuries.
The serratus anterior muscle assists with scapula depression, a downward movement of the scapula or shoulder blade. Other muscles that assist with scapula depression include the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, and pectoralis minor muscles. The serratus anterior muscle also helps with big and small arm movements, such as raising the arms above the head or doing push-ups.
The axilla or armpit is a ticklish area due to the number of nerves it contains. It is also an area where body odour often occurs due to the presence of hair and sweat glands. The axilla includes the axillary vein and artery, the brachial plexus, lymph nodes, and fat. It is bounded by several muscles, including the serratus anterior muscle and the thoracolumbar fascia, which provide structural support and facilitate movement in the shoulder and arm region.
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The axilla also includes the subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi muscles
The axilla, or armpit, is an area of the human body directly under the shoulder joint. The axilla includes several muscles, such as the subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi, which play important roles in shoulder and arm movement.
The subscapularis muscle is one of the rotator cuff muscles that help to stabilise the glenohumeral joint. It originates from the subscapular nerve and works together with other rotator cuff muscles like the teres minor, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus.
The teres major muscle is a thick, flattened, and rectangular muscle that extends from the scapula to the humerus. It functions alongside the latissimus dorsi muscle to extend, adduct, and internally rotate the shoulder and humerus. The teres major is not considered a rotator cuff muscle as it does not attach to the capsule of the shoulder joint. However, it still plays a role in stabilising the glenohumeral joint and the humeral head.
The latissimus dorsi muscle is a large, flat muscle that wraps around the lower border of the teres major. It works in synergy with the teres major to assist in movements like throwing, swimming, and rock climbing. The latissimus dorsi also aids in medial rotation and adduction of the humerus.
These three muscles—the subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi—are crucial for the proper functioning of the shoulders and arms. Their activation helps prevent overuse of the neck and front shoulder muscles, reducing neck tension and the risk of shoulder injuries.
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The axilla is important for emitting body odour
The axilla, or armpit, is an 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 soft skin with many hair and sweat glands.
The formation of body odour in the axilla is a result of an intricate interplay between biochemical pathways and odour-releasing enzymes present in the axillary microbiome. This suggests that body odour may have served an evolutionary function, potentially related to chemical communication and mate selection. However, the use of deodorants and the spread of the ABCC11 mutation, which reduces body odour, indicate a loss of importance for axillary odours in contemporary societies.
Additionally, the axilla's role in emitting body odour can be influenced by various factors, including sex, genetics, age, and diet. Certain medical conditions, such as trimethylaminuria and hypermethioninemia, can also result in distinct body odours that can be used for diagnosis. While body odour is often associated with microbes, the axilla's importance in emitting these odours is evident in conditions like intertrigo, where warm, wet underarms promote fungal, bacterial, or viral growth, leading to unpleasant symptoms.
Understanding the axilla's role in emitting body odour has led to the development of various natural approaches to reducing armpit odour, such as baking soda, green tea, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice, which help balance the skin's pH, block pores, and kill bacteria.
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The axilla contains the axillary vein and artery, brachial plexus, lymph nodes and fat
The axilla, or armpit, is a small space in the human body located between the upper thoracic wall and the arm. It is bounded by the serratus anterior muscle and thoracolumbar fascia medially, the pectoral muscles anteriorly, and the subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi muscles posteriorly. The axilla contains the axillary vein and artery, the brachial plexus, lymph nodes, and fat.
The axillary artery is a large blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the thorax, axilla, and upper limb. It is commonly referred to as having three parts, based on its location relative to the pectoralis minor muscle. The axillary vein accompanies the axillary artery and is the main vein draining the upper limb.
The brachial plexus is a collection of spinal nerves that form the peripheral nerves of the upper limb. These nerves are important for the function of the shoulders and arms, and their improper use can lead to neck tension and shoulder injuries.
The axillary lymph nodes are located in the axillary pad of fat and play a crucial role in the lymphatic system. They filter lymphatic fluid from the upper limb, pectoral region, thorax, breast, arm, and upper abdominal wall. Approximately 75% of lymph from the breast drains into these nodes, making them significant in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
The axilla also contains muscles such as the biceps brachii (short head) and coracobrachialis, which attach to the coracoid process of the scapula. Additionally, the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles are located in the underarm/back area and play a role in scapular depression, helping to relieve neck tension.
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The axilla is a ticklish area due to the number of nerves it contains
The axilla, commonly known as the armpit, underarm, or oxter, is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. The axilla is a ticklish area due to the number of nerves it contains. Most people find this area particularly unpleasant when tickled.
The axilla includes the axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle between the arm and the thoracic cage. The axillary space is bounded by the first rib, clavicle, and superior edge of the scapula. The base of the axilla is formed by skin, subcutaneous tissue, and axillary fascia, and forms what is called the axillary fossa, or the armpit.
The axilla has four walls. The anterior wall is made up of two muscles: the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. The inferior-most aspect of the anterior wall is called the anterior axillary fold, formed by the pectoralis major. The posterior wall of the axillary is formed mainly by the scapula and overlying subscapularis muscle. The inferior aspect of the posterior wall is formed by the teres major and latissimus dorsi muscles, which form the posterior axillary fold. The medial wall is formed by the serratus anterior muscle, which overlies the first to fourth ribs and intercostal muscles. Finally, the lateral wall is a bony wall formed by the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus.
The axilla contains many hair and sweat glands, and is the primary site of body odour formation in humans. These odourant substances are believed by some to act as pheromones, playing a role in mate selection.
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Frequently asked questions
The underarm, also known as the armpit or axilla, is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint.
The underarm contains several muscles, including the serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, pectoralis minor, and trapezius.
The underarm muscles are important for the function of the shoulders and arms. They assist with scapula depression, which is the downward movement of the shoulder blades, and help to prevent overuse of the neck and front of the shoulders, reducing neck tension and the risk of shoulder injuries.
