en The axillary artery and the variations of its branching pattern in KwaZulu-Natal populations: A cadaveric study Gross Anatomy Gross Anatomy Original Original <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Background: The Axillary artery (AA) is a major blood vessel located in the axilla and supplies the lateral thorax, upper limb as well as axilla through the six branches it gives off from its course. This artery exhibits variation in origin and branching patterns but its variations in laterality and sex remain underexplored, especially in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) population. This study aimed to document any possible anatomical variations in the origin of branches and the length of the axillary artery in the KZN population concerning sex and laterality.</span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 human cadavers of a white South African ethnic group (40 upper limbs), provided by the Discipline Clinical Anatomy at the University of KwaZulu Natal &ndash; Nelson R Mandela Medical School campus. Detailed dissection instructions were followed using the Grants dissector manual to carefully expose and examine the axillary artery&rsquo;s variations in the origin of its branches and length.</span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Results: It was observed that the 3^rd part of AA had the most frequent number of variations of 45% in both males and females. However, females had the greatest number of variations of 54.54% on the right side in the 3^rd part. There were 3 types of variations that occurred mainly in the third part. The first part had the least number of variations. The length of the axillary artery varied between sex and laterality, but females had a longer average length of 129.10 mm in this study.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Conclusion: This study reveals that <a name="_Hlk160964777">the<b> </b>variations of AA in origin and branching patterns differ with laterality and are sexually dimorphic, a finding that could assist surgeons and radiologists in avoiding any pitfalls and complications of procedures done in the axilla</a>.</span></span></span><br> &nbsp; <strong>Introduction</strong>: 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.<br> <strong>Methods</strong>: 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&ndash;Nelson R Mandela Medical School campus. Detailed dissection instructions were followed using Grant&rsquo;s dissector manual to carefully expose and examine the AA&rsquo;s variations in the origin of its branches and length.<br> <strong>Results</strong>: 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.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Conclusion</strong>: 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. Axillary artery, Axilla, Upper limb, Branches, Variation Axillary artery, Axilla, Upper limb, Branches, Variation 21 30 http://anatomyjournal.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-420-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Samuel Oluwaseun Olojede olojedesamuelo@gmail.com 10031947532846007797 10031947532846007797 Yes Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa. Khayakazi Mayenziwe Mthembu 220025079@stu.ukzn.ac.za 10031947532846007798 10031947532846007798 No Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa. Nomthandazo Magcaba magcabanomtha@gmail.com 10031947532846007799 10031947532846007799 No Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa. Sodiq Kolawole Lawal lawalsodiq6@gmail.com 10031947532846007800 10031947532846007800 No Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Onyemaechi Okpara Azu amechi.okpara@gmail.com 10031947532846007801 10031947532846007801 No Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa. Edwin Coleridge Naidu Naiduecs@gmail.com 10031947532846007802 10031947532846007802 No Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa.