24 THE UPPER EXTREMITY 



in its distal half. This is due to the fact that the posterior 

 wall of the axilla extends more distally than the anterior 

 wall. Whilst, therefore, it is covered in its proximal half 

 by the pectoralis major, below this it is only covered 

 by the skin and fascia. Behind it proximo-distally are 

 the subscapularis, the tendon of the latissimus dorsi, and 

 the teres major, but it is separated from the subscapularis 

 muscle by the axillary (circumflex) and radial (musculo- 

 spiral) nerves, and from the latissimus dorsi and the teres 



Lateral cord 

 Posterior cord 



Medial cord 



Musculo-cutaneous nerve 

 Median nerve (lateral head) 

 Median nerve (medial head) 

 Medial antibrachial cutaneous nerve 

 Medial brachial cutaneous nerve 



Median nerve 



Radial nerve 

 (musculo-spiral) 



Ulnar nerve 



FIG. ii. Diagram to show relation of Axillary Vessels and Nerves. 



major by the radial nerve. To its lateral side is the coraco- 

 brachialis muscle, but between the muscle and the artery 

 are the musculo-cutaneous and the median nerves. To the 

 medial side of the artery is the vein with the medial 

 cutaneous nerve of the forearm in the angle between the 

 artery and vein anteriorly, and the ulnar nerve in the angle 

 between the artery and vein posteriorly. The medial 

 cutaneous nerve of the arm lies along the medial side of 

 the vein. 



The branches of the axillary artery have been seen at 

 different stages of the dissection. They may now be more 

 fully examined. They are : 



