VARIATIONS IN THE RELATIONS OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS AND AXILLARY ARTERY Prashant Moolya * 1 , Lakshmi Rajgopal 2 . * 1  Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, B.K.L.Walawalkar Rural Medical College, Savarde, Maharashtra, India. 2  Professor (Additional), Department of Anatomy, Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Address   for   the   correspondence:    Dr.   Prashant   Moolya,   Assistant   Professor,   Department   of   Anatomy,   B.K.L.Walawalkar   Rural   Medical   College,   Savarde, Maharashtra-415606, India. E-Mail:  pmsangli2@yahoo.co.in ABSTRACT: Introduction:     ‘Brachial    plexus’    which    literally    means    ‘arm    braid’    (brachium=arm;    plexus=braid)    is    an    important    content    of    axilla.        Knowledge    about relationship   of   cords   and   branches   of   brachial   plexus   to   axillary   artery   is   mandatory   for   the   anaesthetists   for   giving   brachial   plexus   block   by   axillary approach, for the surgeons who operate in the axillary region and for the radiologists for interventional therapy. Aim:  The aim of this study was to find out about the variations in the relationship of cords and branches of brachial plexus to the axillary artery. Materials   and   Methods:    The   present   study   was   carried   out   by   dissection   of   120   (60   right   and   60   left)   upper   limbs   in   60   embalmed   cadavers   that   were available in the department of Anatomy of a Medical College. Results:    With   reference   to   the   first,   second   and   third   parts   of   axillary   artery   variation   in   relations   of   cords   and   branches   of   brachial   plexus   were   noted,   when the   axillary   artery   was   not   passing   between   the   two   roots   of   median   nerve.The   relationship   of   lateral   cord   and   its   branches   to   axillary   artery   were   almost constant, but that of medial and posterior cord and its branches varied. Conclusion:    Knowledge   of   variation   in   course   and   relations   of   axillary   artery   is   useful   in   surgical   procedures   pertaining   to   axillary   region   and   for   the anaesthetist to perform brachial plexus block by axillary approach. KEY WORDS: Axillary artery, brachial plexus, brachial plexus block. References 1 . 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