axillærkar

The axillary artery, also known as the axillærkar, is a major blood vessel in the human body. It is the continuation of the subclavian artery, which branches off from the brachiocephalic trunk. The axillary artery runs through the axilla, or armpit, and supplies blood to the upper limb. It is typically located posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle and anterior to the subscapularis muscle.

The axillary artery gives off several branches, including the superior thoracic artery, thoracoacromial artery, lateral thoracic artery, and subcostal artery. It also gives rise to the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries, which supply blood to the humerus, and the anterior and posterior humeral circumflex arteries, which supply blood to the head of the humerus.

The axillary artery terminates by dividing into the brachial artery, which continues down the arm, and the profunda brachii artery, which supplies blood to the deep structures of the arm. The axillary artery is an important structure in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions, including arterial diseases and injuries to the upper limb.