Axillary artery

Suprascapular artery 

“Suprascapular artery is a branch of thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery, not axillary artery”

Branches of axillary artery:

The branches of the axillary artery are superior thoracic, thoraco-acromial, lateral thoracic, subscapular, anterior and posterior circumflex humeral. The Suprascapular artery usually arises from the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery

Pectoralis minor crosses in front of axillary artery and divides it into three parts. The anterior relation of each part are; First part lies behing the pectoralis major muscle, second part lies behind the pectoralis minor and major muscle and third part lies behind pectoralis major.

The cords of brachial plexus are named according to their relation with the second part of  axillary artery, lateral cord runs lateral to the axillary artery, as well the medial and posterior cord lies medially and posterior to the axillary artery. Thus the muscle anteriorly to second part is pectoralis minor and major.

The suprascapular, dorsal scapular, subscapular, and scapular circumflex arteries participate in a potential collateral anastomoses around the scapula. The suprascapular and dorsal scapular arteries arise, directly or indirectly, from the subclavian artery while the subscapular and scapular circumflex arteries are from the third part of the axillary artery, thus providing a bypass for obstructions of the first or second parts of the axillary artery.

• Superior thoracic artery

• Thoracoacromial artery
• Lateral thoracic artery

• Subscapular artery
• Anterior humeral circumflex artery
• Posterior humeral circumflex artery

Suprascapular artery is a branch of thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery, not axillary artery.

The axillary artery has several smaller branches.

First part (1 branch)

• Superior thoracic artery

Second part (2 branches)

• Thoraco-acromial artery
• Lateral thoracic artery

• Subscapular artery
• Anterior humeral circumflex artery
• Posterior humeral circumflex artery

C i.e., Deep branch of the transverse cervical artery and subscapular artery

Axillary artery is a continuation of subclavian artery from lateral border of 1^st rib to lateral border of teres major muscle(2 after which it becomes brachial artery. Because of extensive collateral circulation between thyrocervical trunk of subclavian artery and subscapular artery, which is branch distal axillary artery. Ligation, thrombosis or trauma of axillary artery anywhere between origins of thyrocervical trunk & sub scapular arteries will not lead to compromise of flow to distal arm.