Case Report ANOMALOUS BRANCHING PATTERN OF AXILLARY ARTERY IN RELATION TO LONG THORACIC NERVE AND ITS CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

An unusual anomalous branching pattern of axillary artery was observed in the middle aged male cadaver during routine cadaveric dissection. The lateral thoracic artery was found to emerge from third part of axillary artery forming a common trunk with subscapular artery and posterior circumflex humeral on left side. It was also noted that, the long thoracic nerve was passing between the two branches of lateral thoracic artery. Such course of long thoracic nerve makes it highly vulnerable to compression and injury, which may manifest as winging scapula. Sound knowledge of such neurovascular variations is important for surgeons, anesthesiologists and orthopedic surgeons, which may prevent diagnostic errors.