rare variation of axillary artery

ABSTRACT

The axillary artery, a continuation of the subclavian artery, begins at the outer border of first rib, and ends nominally at the inferior border of teres major muscle where it becomes the brachial artery. During the dissection of a 30-35-year-old man cadaver, according to classical anatomy method [Grant's method], we found an unusual branching in the second part of the axillary artery on the right side. The second part of axillary artery had a common branch, from which a lateral thoracic and subscapular artery was originated. This is an infrequent variation that has not been reported in the anatomy references, as yet. The increasing use of invasive diagnostic and interventional procedures in cardiovascular diseases, as well use of branches of upper limb arteries for coronary bypass and flaps in reconstructive surgery. Therefore, accurate knowledge of normal and variant arterial pattern of the upper extremities, for example axillary artery, is very important for medical specialists particularly anatomists and surgeons. Awareness of such variations can help surgeons to reduce the postoperative complications