Axillary nodes

Local vessels and regional nodes · 5 groups 20-40 nodes

Anterior (pectoral), posterior (subscapular), lateral (humeral), central and apical groups receive the upper limb, breast and chest wall above the umbilicus, and efferents from the apical group form the subclavian trunk.

Traced from the start

  1. Upper limbBreast
  2. Axillary nodes

Detail

Groups
Anterior, posterior, lateral, central, apical
Number
About 20-40 nodes
Territory
Upper limb, breast, chest and abdominal wall above the umbilicus
Efferents
Apical group to the subclavian trunk

When it goes wrong

Axillary clearance with or without radiotherapy

Arm lymphoedema in roughly 20%, rising with level III clearance

Division of the intercostobrachial nerve during clearance

Numbness over the medial upper arm

Long thoracic nerve injury on the medial axillary wall

Winged scapula from serratus anterior palsy

Practise this structure

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