Coronal Plane Visualization of the Male Axillary Region

Description

Running in a coronal plane through the male axillary region, the anterior axillary fossa is framed anteriorly by pectoralis major and pectoralis minor and posteriorly by subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi forming the posterior axillary fold. Medially, the serratus anterior lies against the thoracic wall and ribs, while the humerus and short head of biceps brachii mark the lateral boundary near the intertubercular sulcus. Within the fat-filled axilla, the axillary artery and axillary vein course inferior to the clavicle, surrounded by cords and terminal branches of the brachial plexus, with axillary lymph nodes clustered along the vein. Spatial relationships are explicit. Coronal orientation matters because it mirrors how clinicians conceptualize the axilla during neurovascular assessment and operative exposure, where the cords of the brachial plexus are named for their position around the axillary artery (lateral, posterior, medial). This anatomy underpins common scenarios such as axillary artery injury after anterior shoulder dislocation, and it clarifies why axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer risks sensory change from intercostobrachial nerve sacrifice and motor deficits if the long thoracic or thoracodorsal nerves are compromised. Needle placement for an axillary brachial plexus block also depends on these relationships. Use this illustration for undergraduate gross anatomy and regional anatomy courses covering the shoulder girdle and upper limb, and for surgical atlases addressing axillary approaches in breast surgery, trauma, and vascular repair. It also supports patient-facing education on armpit lymph node surgery and postoperative neuropathic symptoms. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.