Variation in the branching pattern of axillary artery ? Lateral thoracic artery and subscapular artery arising from a common trunk

ABSTRACT The axillary artery begins at the lateral border of the first rib as a continuation of subclavian artery. It continues as a brachial artery at the lower border of teres major muscle. For purposes of description, it is broken up into three parts by its relation to the pectoralis minor muscle. During routine dissection of the right sided axillary region in an embalmed cadaver a variation in the branching pattern of axillary artery was observed. The lateral thoracic and subscapular arteries were arising from a common trunk instead of arising separately from second and third part of axillary artery. Till today, the literature has shown many variations in the branching pattern of axillary artery. Most of these documentations were pertaining to the gross anatomy. This paper deals mainly with the embryological basis and clinical significance of such variation. ( KEYWORDS- Axillary artery, variations, branching pattern, embryology, clinical significance.)