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Bilateral double axillary artery: embryological basis and clinical implications
A R Jurjus1, R Correa-De-Aruaujo, R C Bohn
1Department of Human Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.)
|March 24, 1999
Summary
An unusual arterial variation was found in the axilla, where two axillary arteries supplied the upper limb instead of one. This bilateral anomaly has significant embryological and clinical implications for surgical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Embryology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- The axillary artery typically follows a standard branching pattern.
- Variations in the axillary artery's anatomy are uncommon but clinically significant.
Observation:
- A bilateral anatomical variation in the axillary artery was observed in an embalmed cadaver.
- Each axilla presented two distinct axillary arteries originating from a single trunk.
- These arteries exhibited different branching patterns and terminal destinations.
Findings:
- The typical axillary artery bifurcated into a 'regular' and a 'variant' artery after giving off the supreme thoracic artery.
- The variant artery supplied the profunda brachii artery on the right and muscular branches to the triceps on the left.
- The regular artery supplied most usual branches but lacked the profunda brachii on the right.
Implications:
- This arterial arrangement suggests a potential embryological basis, possibly due to persisting branches from the developing limb bud capillary plexus.
- Understanding this variation is crucial for surgeons performing procedures in the axillary region, minimizing risks of aberrant vascular damage.
- The dual arterial supply highlights the complex vascular development and potential for anatomical anomalies in the upper limb.