Variations in the branching pattern of axillary artery and its relation to median nerve - a case report

The relationship between axillary artery and brachial plexus along with variations in branching pattern of axillary artery bears much clinical significance. During routine dissection, the following variations were found in a male cadaver on the right side. The thoracodorsal artery was found to arise from the second part of axillary artery along with an alar thoracic artery. A common trunk from the third part was seen to pass between the two roots of median nerve. The common trunk gave rise to anterior circumflex humeral artery, posterior circumflex humeral artery, superior ulnar collateral artery, subscapular artery and profunda brachii artery. Also the two roots and the main trunk of median nerve were in a posterior relation to the third part of axillary artery. The knowledge of such variations are important to surgeons, orthopaedicians, anaesthesiologists and radiologists.