Undocumented variant branching pattern of axillary artery

During routine dissection for teaching under graduate medical students, an atypical case of variant branching pattern in second and third part of the axillary artery was discovered. The posterior circumflex humeral artery and subscapular artery arose as a common trunk from third part of axillary artery. Also, subscapular artery was a small branch whereas lateral thoracic artery was the largest branch of axillary artery which was totally unusual. The lateral thoracic artery supplied second and third intercostal spaces, axillary fat, subscapularis, serratus anterior, teres major and lattisimus dorsi muscles. Also there was an aberrant branch arising from the second part of axillary artery which was observed to be coursing towards the shoulder joint. The co-existance of variant branches along with the extra aberrant artery found in this case is exceptional. The knowledge about this kind of variation is important for vascular surgeons and radiologists for repair of vessels; diagnostic and therapeutic angiography in addition to various skin flaps and muscle transfers for upper extremity and breast reconstruction.