Variation in the Branching Pattern of Third Part of Axillary Artery- A Case Report

Anatomical variation of the branching pattern of axillary artery is very common. The knowledge of this variation is often useful during different surgical and interventional procedures. Variations include typically of Lateral Thoracic Artery (LTA) and Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery (PCHA). The present case has been reported to document the variation of LTA and PCHA. The axilla of a 65-year-old embalmed female cadaver was routinely dissected for educational purpose in the Department of Anatomy, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. Cunnighams Manual of Dissection was followed during the whole dissection procedure. We found that the third part of axillary artery gave rise to a common trunk which divided into PCHA and LTA. The PCHA curved backwards around the humeral neck and made anastomosis with the anterior circumflex humeral artery. The LTA supplied serratus anterior and the pectoral muscles and made anastomosis with intercostal arteries. The axillary nerve accompanied PCHA while the thoracodorsal nerve accompanied LTA. The rare anatomical variation of the branching pattern of axillary artery is assumed to be helpful in the surgical procedures and various therapeutic interventions of the upper limb.