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IJAR.2018.380

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Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 6; Issue 4.3 (December 2018)

Page No.: 5945-5949

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2018.380

ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS OF THE AXILLARY NERVE: A CADAVERIC STUDY

Anwesa Pal 1, Soumali Biswas *2, Asis Kumar Ghoshal 3.

1 Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post–Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.

*2 Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post –Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.

3 Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post –Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.

Address for correspondence: Dr. Soumali Biswas, Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post –Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India. E-Mail: drsoumali.biswas26@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Background: Axillary nerve is one of the most common nerves which is prone to iatrogenic injuries (6% of all the brachial plexus injuries). Knowledge of the anatomical variations of the axillary nerve in respect to its origin from the posterior cord of brachial plexus, its site of division into anterior and posterior branch and its mode of supply to the deltoid muscle is highly important for anatomists, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists and anesthetists for proper exploration of the axillary region.

Material and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal. The sample size was 50 upper limbs of 25 formalin hardened human cadavers of both sexes.

Results: Out of 50 samples, in 16% cases the Axillary nerve took origin as a common trunk. Regarding the site of division of the axillary nerve into anterior and posterior branches it was found to be above the quadrangular space in 12% cases and within the quadrangular space in 88% cases. . Regarding the mode of supply of the deltoid muscle it was seen that the anterior part of the deltoid was supplied by the anterior division of the axillary nerve in 100% cases; middle part of the deltoid solely by anterior division of the axillary nerve in 60% cases and in remaining 40% cases both from anterior and posterior branch i.e. dual supply (fig-3); the posterior part of the deltoid was seen to be supplied by the posterior branch in 100% cases.

Conclusion: The knowledge of variations of axillary nerve is very important for anatomists, aneasthesists, orthopaedic surgeons and general physicians during surgical interventions of the axilla and intra-muscular injections to the deltoid muscle.

KEY WORDS: Axillary nerve, Division, Quadrangular space, Deltoid.

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Cite this article: Anwesa Pal, Soumali Biswas, Asis Kumar Ghoshal. ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS OF THE AXILLARY NERVE: A CADAVERIC STUDY. Int J Anat Res 2018;6(4.3):5945-5949. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2018.380