Axilláris

Axilláris refers to the axilla, the armpit region of the body, or to structures pertaining to it. In anatomy, axilláris denotes the space and its contents that serve as a conduit for neurovascular structures traveling to the upper limb and as a major site of lymphatic drainage.

The axilla is bounded by the apex (the cervico-axillary canal bordered by the clavicle, first rib, and superior scapular border), the base formed by skin and fascia, the anterior wall (pectoralis major and minor), the posterior wall (subscapularis, teres major, latissimus dorsi), the medial wall (ribs and serratus anterior), and the lateral wall (intertubercular groove of the humerus). Its contents include the axillary artery and branches, the axillary vein and tributaries, the brachial plexus cords and their branches, axillary lymph nodes, adipose tissue, and several cutaneous nerves such as the intercostobrachial nerve. The region also houses the axillary lymphatic nodes that drain the upper limb, chest wall, and breast.

Clinically, the axilláris is important in breast cancer management, as cancer often involves axillary lymph nodes for staging and treatment decisions. It is also relevant for shoulder function, since injury to the axillary nerve or related branches can impair deltoid and teres minor function. Enlarged or tender axillary nodes can indicate infection, inflammatory conditions, or metastasis, and imaging or biopsy of this region is commonly employed in diagnostic workups. Etymology derives from Latin axilla, meaning armpit; in medical usage, axilláris or axillaris describes structures related to the armpit.