Axillära

Axillära is a Swedish term meaning “relating to the armpit” and is used in anatomy to describe structures and features within the axilla, or armpit region. In Swedish-language texts, axillära is used to specify armpit-related anatomy and conditions, such as axillära lymfkörtlar (axillary lymph nodes) or axillära fossa (the axillary fossa).

Anatomy: The axilla is a pyramid-shaped space between the upper thorax and the upper arm. Its apex is the cervico-axillary canal and its base is formed by skin and subcutaneous tissue. Its walls are formed by a combination of muscles: anterior wall mainly by pectoralis major and minor; posterior wall by subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi; medial wall by the upper ribs and serratus anterior; lateral wall by the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus. Contents include adipose tissue, axillary lymph nodes, and neurovascular structures: the axillary artery and vein with their branches (including lateral thoracic and circumflex humeral arteries), and the cords of the brachial plexus (lateral, posterior, and medial) giving rise to several nerves, notably the axillary nerve.

Clinical relevance: The axilla is key in breast cancer staging due to the axillary lymph node basin, which is organized into levels I–III and apical nodes. Procedures such as sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection target these nodes. The region is also involved in conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa and axillary hyperhidrosis, and surgical or traumatic injury can affect nearby nerves and shoulder function.

Note: The term axillära is used in Swedish anatomical literature; in English, the corresponding term is axillary.