Tue, May 26, 2026
Volume 21, Issue 1 (Winter & Spring-InPress 2024)
ASJ 2024, 21(1): 21-30 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Olojede S O, Mthembu K M, Magcaba N, Lawal S K, Okpara Azu O, Coleridge Naidu E. Axillary Artery and the Variations of Its Branching Pattern in KwaZulu-Natal Populations: A Cadaveric Study. ASJ 2024; 21 (1) :21-30
URL: http://anatomyjournal.ir/article-1-616-en.html
URL: http://anatomyjournal.ir/article-1-616-en.html
Samuel Oluwaseun Olojede1 
, Khayakazi Mayenziwe Mthembu2 , Nomthandazo Magcaba2 , Sodiq Kolawole Lawal3 , Onyemaechi Okpara Azu4 , Edwin Coleridge Naidu2
, Khayakazi Mayenziwe Mthembu2 , Nomthandazo Magcaba2 , Sodiq Kolawole Lawal3 , Onyemaechi Okpara Azu4 , Edwin Coleridge Naidu2
1- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
2- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa.
3- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
4- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
2- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa.
3- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
4- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
Abstract: (2349 Views)
Introduction: The axillary artery (AA) is a significant blood vessel located in the axilla that supplies the lateral thorax, upper limb, and axilla through the six branches it gives off from its course. This artery exhibits variations in origin and branching patterns, but its laterality and sex-related variations remain poorly explored, especially in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) population. This study aimed to document possible anatomical variations in the origin and length of the AA in the KZN population by sex and laterality.
Methods: This study was conducted on 20 human cadavers of a white South African ethnic group (40 upper limbs), provided by the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy at the University of KZN–Nelson R Mandela Medical School campus. Detailed dissection instructions were followed using Grant’s dissector manual to carefully expose and examine the AA’s variations in the origin of its branches and length.
Results: The third part of the AA had the highest frequency of variations (45%) in both men and women. However, females had the most significant number of variations (54.54%) on the right side in the third part. Three types of variations occurred mainly in the third part. The first part had the fewest variations. The length of the AA varied with sex and laterality, but females had a longer average length of 129.10 mm in this study.
Conclusion: This study reveals that variations in the AA origin and branching patterns differ by laterality and are sexually dimorphic, a finding that could assist surgeons and radiologists in avoiding pitfalls and complications of procedures performed in the axilla.
Methods: This study was conducted on 20 human cadavers of a white South African ethnic group (40 upper limbs), provided by the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy at the University of KZN–Nelson R Mandela Medical School campus. Detailed dissection instructions were followed using Grant’s dissector manual to carefully expose and examine the AA’s variations in the origin of its branches and length.
Results: The third part of the AA had the highest frequency of variations (45%) in both men and women. However, females had the most significant number of variations (54.54%) on the right side in the third part. Three types of variations occurred mainly in the third part. The first part had the fewest variations. The length of the AA varied with sex and laterality, but females had a longer average length of 129.10 mm in this study.
Conclusion: This study reveals that variations in the AA origin and branching patterns differ by laterality and are sexually dimorphic, a finding that could assist surgeons and radiologists in avoiding pitfalls and complications of procedures performed in the axilla.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Gross Anatomy
Received: 2024/03/10 | Accepted: 2025/04/29 | Published: 2024/04/14
Received: 2024/03/10 | Accepted: 2025/04/29 | Published: 2024/04/14
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
Copyright © The Author(s);
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
