axillaarinen

Axillaarinen refers to the armpit region, the axilla, a pyramidal space located beneath the shoulder joint that connects the thorax to the upper limb. The term is used in anatomy, medicine, and related fields to describe structures and processes associated with this region.

The boundaries of the axilla include the anterior wall formed by the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles; the posterior wall formed by the subscapularis, teres major, and latissimus dorsi; the medial wall formed by the upper ribs and serratus anterior; the lateral wall formed by the intertubercular groove of the humerus; the apex is the cervicoaxillary canal, and the base consists of skin and axillary fascia. The axilla contains fat, lymph nodes, vessels, nerves, and part of the brachial plexus.

Key contents include the axillary artery and its branches, the axillary vein, the brachial plexus cords and branches, numerous axillary lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels, and the intercostobrachial nerve. Clinically important considerations involve sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer, axillary lymph node swelling due to infection or malignancy, and the potential for damage to the axillary nerve or brachial plexus during surgery or trauma, which can affect shoulder movement such as abduction and lateral rotation.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin axilla, armpit. In Finnish, axillaarinen is the corresponding adjective describing structures or regions related to the armpit.