A MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF AXILLARY ARTERY AND ITS BRANCHING PATTERN

The vascular anatomy of the human upper limb which is man’s important earning tool, is a complex and challenging area. The arterial supply of the upper limb is mainly maintained by brachial artery through its branches. Recent progress in vascular surgery has engendered a need for precise knowledge of the frequency of anatomical variations in the branching pattern of axillary artery. Upperlimb injuries are the most frequent occupational accidents. Awareness of variations in the anatomy of brachial artery and its branches is important to avoid serious complications while treating the cases of arterio-venous fistulae, aneurysms and abscess drainage in the region of axilla, arm and cubital fossa. The present study was undertaken on 54 upper limbs of both sexes from embalmed adult human cadavers . The specimens were studied by detailed dissection method. In the present study, 59.3% of specimens showed variations of axillary artery. Better anatomical knowledge about the branches of brachial artery and their variations are important for surgeons, physicians, radiologists and interventionists, because based on anatomical study, new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches can be proposed.