PECTORAL REGION

AND AXILLA

• By:
• Prof.Saeed Abulmakarem.
• DR.Snaa AL-Shaarawy.
 OBJECTIVES
• By the end of the lecture the students should
be able to :
• Identify and describe the muscles of the pectoral
region.
 Pectoralis major.
 Pectoralis minor.
 Subclavius.
 Serratus anterior.
• Describe and demonstrate the boundaries and
contents of the axilla.
• Describe the formation of the brachial plexus and its
branches.
 • Origin : 2 heads;
Pectoralis Major • Clavicular head: From;
• Medial ½ of the front of the
clavicle.
• Sternocostal head: From;
• Sternum.
• Upper 6 costal cartilages.
• Aponeurosis of the external
oblique muscle.
• Insertion :
• Lateral lip of bicipital
groove.
• Nerve supply :
• Medial & lateral pectoral
nerves.
• Action :
• Adduction and medial
rotation of the arm.
• Clavicular head helps in
flexion of arm (shoulder).
Pectoralis Minor
• Origin:
• From 3rd ,4th, & 5th
ribs close to their
costal cartilages.
• Insertion:
• Coracoid process.
3
• Nerve supply:
• Medial pectoral nerve.
4
• Action:
5
• Depression of the
shoulder.
• Draw the ribs upward
and outwards during
deep inspiration.
Subclavius • Origin:
• From 1st rib at its
costal cartilage.
• Insertion:
• Subclavian groove in
the middle 1/3 of the
inferior surface of
clavicle.
• Nerve supply:
• Nerve to subclavius
from upper trunk of
brachial plexus.
• Action:
• Fixes the clavicle
during movement of
shoulder joint.
 • It is a thickened
Clavipectoral Fascia membrane of deep fascia
between the subclavius
and pectoralis minor.
• It is pierced by :
 Lateral pectoral nerve.
 Thoraco- acromial artery
 Cephalic vein.
 Few lymph vessels.
 Origin:
Serratus anterior
• Upper eight ribs.
• Insertion:
• anterior aspect of the
medial border and
inferior angle of
scapula.
• Nerve supply:
• Long thoracic nerve
(from roots of brachial
plexus,C5,6,7).
• Action:
• Draws the scapula
forward in boxing,
(protrusion or
protraction). "boxer's
muscle"
• Rotates scapula
outwards in raising the
arm above 90 degree.
 AXILLA
• A pyramid-shaped
space between the
upper part of the
arm and the side of
the chest through
which major
neurovascular
structures pass
between neck &
thorax and upper
limbs.
• Axilla has an apex, a
base and four walls.
Boundaries of the
Axilla
1
 Apex: C
L
 Is directed upwards & A R
medially to the root of I
the neck. B
V
 It is called I
C L
E
• Cervicoaxillary
canal.
 It is bounded, by 3
bones:
• Clavicle anteriorly.
• Upper border of the
scapula posteriorly.
• Outer border of the
first rib medially.
 Base:
 Formed by skin stretching
between the anterior and
posterior walls.
 is bounded:
• In front by the anterior
axillary fold (formed by
the lower border of
Pectoralis major).
• Behind by the posterior
axillary fold (formed by
tendons of latissimus
dorsi and teres major).
• Medially by upper 4 to 5
ribs & the chest wall.
 Anterior wall:
Clavipectoral fascia
 Is formed by :
• Pectoralis major
• Pectoralis minor
• Subclavius
• Clavipectoral
fascia:
Pectoralis
minor

Pectoralis
major
• Posterior wall:
• Is formed by:
• Subscapularis.
• Latissimus dorsi.
• Teres major
muscles.
 The medial wall:
 It is wide and formed by:
• Serratus anterior.
• Upper 4-5 ribs &
Intercostal
muscles .
 The lateral wall:
 It is narrow and formed
by:
• Coracobrachi-alis.
• Biceps brachii.
• Bicepital groove of
the humerus.
Contents of The Axillary a. & v.

Axilla
• Cords and braches of
the brachial plexus
• Axillary artery and
its branches.
• Axillary vein and its
tributaries.
• Axillary lymph nodes.
• Axillary fat. Brachial
• Loose connective plexus
tissue.

The neurovascular bundle is enclosed in connective tissue

sheath, called ‘axillary sheath’
 What is a Brachial Plexus ?
Brachial Plexus is a network of nerves that is formed at
the root of the neck to enter the upper limb.

Location & Formation

Brachial Plexus is present in the posterior triangle
of the neck & axilla.
It is formed by the union of the anterior Rami of the
C 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th and the 1st thoracic spinal nerve.

Roots of C5 & C6 unite to form---- Upper trunk

Root of C7 continuous as the-------- Middle trunk
Roots of C8 & T1 unite to form---- Lower trunk
15
The Plexus can be divided into 5 stages:
Roots: in the posterior∆
Trunks: in the posterior∆
Divisions: behind the clavicle (in cervico-axillary canal)
Cords: in the axilla
Branches: in the axilla
• The first 2 stages lie in the posterior triangle, while the last 2 sages lie in the axilla. 16
 The anterior divisions of the upper and middle trunks
unite to form the Lateral cord.
 The anterior division of the lower trunk continues as the
Medial cord.
 All the posterior divisions of three trunks join to form the
Posterior cord. 17
 Lateral cord-3 Medial cord-5 Posterior cord-5
Lateral pectoral nerve. Medial pectoral nerve. Axillary nerve.
Musculocutaneous nerve.
Median nerve (lateral
Ulnar nerve.
Median nerve (medial
Radial nerve.
Upper & lower
B
root). root). subscapular nerves.
Medial cutaneous nerve of Thoracodorsal or N.
R
arm & forearm. to latissimus dorsi.
N
C
H
E
S
 Lesion of Long thoracic
Dislocation of shoulder
nerve and
joint…….Winging of Scapula.
paralysis of Serratus
anterior muscle……Winging
of scapula
THANK YOU
 SUMMARY
Muscles of the pectoral region are connecting the
upper limb with anterior and lateral thoracic wall:
Pectoralis major.
Pectoralis minor.
Subclavius.
Serratus anterior.
The axilla is a pyramidal space situated between the upper part
of arm and the side of the chest, it has 4 walls (anterior, posterior,
medial and lateral), base, and apex.
The axilla is an important space as it transmits the
neurovascular bundle from the neck and thorax to the upper limb.
It contains:
Axillary vessels.
Cords and branches of the brachial plexus.
Axillary lymph nodes.