Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2017 Sep;30(3):71-76. 10.11637/kjpa.2017.30.3.71.

Variation of the Subscapular Artery According to Branching Pattern of the Axillary Artery

• Park SB
• Lee JH
• Choi IJ
• Choi WI
• Jin SC

• KMID: 2392272
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.2017.30.3.71

Abstract

The axillary artery (AA) is often referred to as having three parts, with these divisions based on its location relative to the pectoralis minor muscle. In third part, AA gives off the subscapular (SSA), anterior circumflex humeral, and posterior circumflex humeral arteries (PCHA). However, variations in these arteries were extremely diverse. So, we observed actually some branching patterns of these arteries in this study. METHOD: We studied the pattern of SSA in 128 upper limbs from donated cadavers. RESULT: SSA was originated directly from the third and second parts of AA in 37.5% (48/128) and 4.7% (6/128), respectively. A PCHA made a common trunk with SSA in 25.8% (33/128), and these trunks arose from the third and second parts of AA in 21.1% (27/128) and 4.7% (6/128), respectively. A lateral thoracic artery (LTA) arose from SSA in 12.5% (16/128), and these were originated from the third and second parts of AA in 4.7% (6/128) and 7.8% (10/128), respectively. In 19.5% (25/128) of upper limbs, LTA, SSA, and PCHA have a common trunk, and these arose from the third and second parts of AA in 12.5% (16/128) and 7.0% (9/128), respectively. According to the branching pattern of the SSA, its origin was significantly different.

Keyword

Axillary artery; Subscapular artery; Variation

MeSH Terms

Arteries*
Axillary Artery*
Cadaver
Methods
Thoracic Arteries
Upper Extremity