Abnormal Branching pattern of the Axillary Artery Bilateral Thoracohumeral Trunk A Case Report

Abstract

Axillary Artery is divided into 3 parts by pectoralis minor muscle and classically each part has its own branches. There are many reports to show different variations in the branching pattern of the axillary artery. The increasing use of invasive diagnostic and interventional procedures in                   cardiovascular diseases makes it important that the type and frequency of vascular variations are well documented and           understood. Sound knowledge of neurovascular variations is essential for surgeons, anesthesiologists and orthopedic              surgeons. An unusual bilateral variation in the branching pattern of axillary artery was observed in a 58 year old male cadaver. In this cadaver the course and distribution of the first part of the axillary artery was normal but unusual origin of lateral thoracic artery, subscapular artery and posterior circumflex humeral artery arising from a common trunk which arose from 2nd part of axillary artery. Thoraco-acromial artery coming from the 2nd part was noted. The third part of axillary artery gave rise to anterior circumflex humeral artery. This type of variations should be carefully examined during surgical procedures.