1. B C A B DISSECTION OF THE PECTORAL REGION AND AXILLA
Make certain you have reviewed
the anatomy of the brachial plexus
the branches of the axillary artery
the anatomy of the superficial veins in this region!!! B C A B

2. BRACHIAL PLEXUS Nerves Cords Divisions Trunks Rami Musculocut.
Anterior C5
Lateral
Upper C6
Median
Posterior
Post.
Middle C7
Medial C8
Ulnar
Lower T1
Radial
Posterior
Axillary

3. Brachial Plexus C5 Trunks C6 C7 Divisions C8 Cords T1 Nerves Rami
SUPERIOR C7
Divisions C8
Cords
ANT.
MIDDLE
POST. T1
INFERIOR
Nerves
LATERAL
POSTERIOR
Rami
MUSCULOCUT.
AXILLARY
MEDIAL
RADIAL
MEDIAN .
ULNAR

4. Axillary Artery Superior thoracic Thoraco- acromial Lateral thoracic
Anterior
circumflex
humeral
Subclavian
Posterior
circumflex
humeral
Subscapular
Catheter
Circumflex
scapular
Thoracodorsal
Deep brachial
Axillary
Artery
Brachial

5. Veins
Cephalic
Axillary
Brachial
Basilic

6. DISSECTION OF THE PECTORAL REGION

7. PECTORAL SKIN INCISIONS
Using the following slide as a reference, make the following skin incisions with the cadaver in the supine position.
From the jugular notch A along the clavicle and across the acromion B to a point about 10 cm distal to the acromion.
From A to the xiphisternal junction C.
From C laterally to the table.
At about mid-arm, make a complete circular incision.
At the level of the wrist make another circular incision.
Join these two circular incisions with a longitudinal one on the lateral aspect of the upper limb, that extends to the cut that is distal to the acromion.. Reflect the skin of the arm and forearm and remove it completely. DO NOT damage the superficial veins and cutaneous nerves in the superficial fascia.

8. PECTORAL REGION B C A B

9. Clean the anterior surface of the pectoralis major muscle and define its borders. Recall that the pectoralis major muscle has two heads: a clavicular and sternocostal head. The fibers of the two heads converge and insert into the lateral lip of the bicipital groove of the humerus.

10. Identify the cephalic vein piercing the fascia of the deltopectoral triangle.

11. When beginning dissection in this region, recognize and SAVE the thoracoacormial trunk or artery as it exits the axillary artery

12. Cut the sternocostal head of pectoralis major muscle near its attachment to the sternum and the costal cartilage of the 6th rib and reflect it laterally.

13. Lateral pectoral nerve
Pectoralis minor m.
Medial pectoral nerve
The medial and lateral pectoral nerves are named for the cords of the brachial plexus from which they arise and not for their relationship to pectoralis minor m..
You should note some branches of the thracoacromial artery accompanying these nerves.
Serratus anterior m.

14. Lateral pectoral nerve
Brachial Plexus C5 C6
SUPERIOR C7
Lateral pectoral nerve C8
ANT.
MIDDLE
POST. T1
INFERIOR
LATERAL
POSTERIOR
MUSCULOCUT.
AXILLARY
MEDIAL
RADIAL
MEDIAN
Medial pectoral nerve .
ULNAR

15. Identify the borders of the pectoralis minor m
Identify the borders of the pectoralis minor m. Cut it near its attachments to the ribs and reflect the muscle superiorly towards its attachment to the coracoid process.

16. As you reflect the pectoralis minor m
As you reflect the pectoralis minor m., you should be able to better view the medial and lateral poctoral nn. And the accompanying vessels, which are branches of the thoracoacromial artery.
Remember that the thoracoacromial a. arises from the second part of the axillary a., which is the portion of the vessel that lies deep to the pectoralis minor m.
Thorcoacromial a.

17. This is a good time to also identify and save the lateral thoracic a
This is a good time to also identify and save the lateral thoracic a., which also comes off the second part of the axillary a..
It can be found along the lateral border of the pectoralis minor m. accompanied by the long thoracic n. which innervates the serratus anterior m..
Subclavius m.
Lateral thoracic a.
Long thoracic n.

18. Brachial Plexus C5 C6 C7 C8 T1 Long thoracic nerve SUPERIOR MIDDLE
ANT.
MIDDLE
POST. T1
INFERIOR
LATERAL
POSTERIOR
MUSCULOCUT.
AXILLARY
MEDIAL
RADIAL
MEDIAN .
ULNAR

19. The axilla is described anatomically as having four walls.
Anterior – clavicle and pectoral mm.
Lateral – humerus.
Medial – ribs and intercostal mm..
Posterior – scapula and subscapularis m.

20. The axilla is described anatomically as having four walls.
Anterior – clavicle and pectoral mm.
Lateral – humerus.
Medial – ribs and intercostal mm..
Posterior – scapula and subscapularis m.

21. Make certain that the arm is in an abducted position to facilitate the cleaning of the nerves and vessels.
Be careful to NOT cut the nerves and blood vessels contained in the axilla as the superficial fascia is removed.

22. Identify the axillary artery.

23. Identify the lateral cord of the brachial plexus.

24. Identify the medial cord of the brachial plexus.

25. Identify the posterior cord of the brachial plexus.

26. Now, clean and identify the terminal branches of the brachial plexus.

27. Coracobrachialis muscle
Musculocutaneous nerve – arising from the lateral cord and piercing the coracobrachialis muscle
Coracobrachialis muscle

28. Contribution from lateral cord Contribution from medial cord
Median nerve
Recall that the median nerve has contributions from both the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus.

29. Ulnar nerve – arising from the medial cord

30. Medial cutaneous nerve of the arm or medial brachial cutaneous nerve
You will notice two nerves running adjacent to the ulnar nerve that may arise separately from the medial cord or from a common trunk – the medial brachial cutaneous and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves.
These nerves provide cutaneous innervation to the medial aspect of the arm and forearm.
Medial cutaneous nerve of the arm or medial brachial cutaneous nerve
Medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm or medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve

31. Medial brachial cutaneous nerve Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve
Brachial Plexus C5 C6
SUPERIOR C7 C8
ANT.
MIDDLE
POST. T1
INFERIOR
LATERAL
POSTERIOR
MUSCULOCUT.
AXILLARY
MEDIAL
RADIAL
Medial brachial cutaneous nerve
MEDIAN .
ULNAR
Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve

32. Intercostalbrachial nerve
You may also see the intercostobrachial nerve which actually arises from the second or third intercostal nerves.It will often communicate with the medial brachial cutaneous nerve. The intercostobrachial nerve primarily supplies the skin on the floor of the axilla and some of the adjacent regions of the arm.
Intercostalbrachial nerve

33. Lateral pectoral nerve arising from the lateral cord
Medial pectoral nerve arising from the medial cord
You should be able to trace the medial and lateral pectoral nerves to their origins from the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus.

34. Now, let’s take another look at the axillary artery which begins at the lateral border of the first rib as the continuation of the subclavian artery.
It is described as being made up of three parts relative to the pectoralis minor muscle.

35. The first part of the axillary artery lies between the lateral border of the first rib and the medial border of pectoralis minor muscle.

36. reflected pectoralis minor muscle
The second part of the axillary artery lies posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle.

37. The third part of the axillary artery lies between the lateral border of the pectoralis minor muscle and inferior border of teres major muscle.
As the axillary artery passes distal to the teres major muscle, its name changes to the brachial artery.

38. BRANCHES OF THE AXILLARY ARTERY
First Part (located between lateral border of first rib and superior border of pectoralis minor)
1. superior thoracic artery
Second Part (deep to the pectoralis minor muscle)
1. thoracoacromial trunk or artery
2. lateral thoracic artery
Third Part ( from inferior border of the pectoralis minor muscle to the inferior border of the teres major muscle)
1. subscapular artery
2. anterior circumflex humeral artery
3. posterior circumflex humeral artery

39. Axillary Artery Superior thoracic Thoraco- acromial Lateral thoracic
Anterior
circumflex
humeral
Subclavian
Posterior
circumflex
humeral
first part
Subscapular
Third part
Catheter
Circumflex
scapular
Thoracodorsal
Deep brachial
Axillary
Artery
Brachial

40. Branch of the First Part of the Axillary Artery
Superior thoracic a.

41. Branches of the Second Part of the Axillary Artery
Thoracoacromial trunk which gives rise to four branches: (1) deltoid, (2) acromial, (3) clavicular, and (4) pectoral

42. Branches of the Second Part of the Axillary Artery
Thoracoacromial trunk which gives rise to four branches: (1) deltoid, (2) acromial, (3) clavicular, and (4) pectoral

43. Branches of the Second Part of the Axillary Artery
Lateral thoracic artery which exits the axillary artery AFTER the thoracoacromial trunk and then follows the lateral border of the pectoralis minor muscle.

44. Branches of the Third Part of the Axillary Artery

45. Branches of the Third Part of the Axillary Artery
Subscapular artery which is the largest of the branches of the axillary artery.

46. Branches of the Third Part of the Axillary Artery
Subscapular artery
Thoracodorsal artery is a branch of the subscapular artery.
Circumflex scapular artery is a branch of the subscapular artery.

47. Branches of the Third Part of the Axillary Artery
Anterior circumflex humeral artery which usually travels deep to the coracobrachialis muscle and the short head of the biceps brachii muscle before anastomosing with the posterior humeral circumflex artery.

48. Branches of the Third Part of the Axillary Artery
Posterior circumflex humeral artery which is usually the larger of the two circumflex arteries.

49. Make certain that you have cleaned the posterior cord of the brachial plexus.

51. ANT.
POST.
LATERAL
POSTERIOR
MUSCULOCUT.
AXILLARY
MEDIAL
RADIAL
MEDIAN
ULNAR
Radial nerve
Remember that the radial nerve is simply a continuation of the posterior cord. .

52. Axillary nerve

53. Lower subscapular n. going to subscapularis and teres major muscles
You may see the three smaller branches of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus lying anterior to the subscapularis muscle (1) upper subscapular n., (2) lower subscapular n., and (3) the thoracodorsal n..
Lower subscapular n. going to subscapularis and teres major muscles

54. Thoracodorsal n.. going to the latissimus dorsi muscle

55. Upper subscapular nerve Lower subscapular nerve
Brachial Plexus C5 C6
SUPERIOR C7 C8
ANT.
MIDDLE
POST. T1
INFERIOR
LATERAL
POSTERIOR
MUSCULOCUT.
AXILLARY
MEDIAL
RADIAL
Upper subscapular nerve
MEDIAN .
ULNAR
Thoracodorsal nerve
Lower subscapular nerve