The morphology and topography of the axillary nerve and their clinical importance; [MORFOLOGIJA I TOPOGRAFIJA N. AXILLARIS a I NJIHOV KLINICKI ZNACAJ]

Abstract

The basic morphology and topography of the axillary nerve are described. Attention is drawn to the circumhumeral part of the nerve and its relationship to the adjacent acromion process and greater and lesser tuberosities of the humerus. Macerated specimens showed the sharp edges of these structures. Superimposition of these relationships on radiographs enables the type of axillary nerve lesion to be predicted in fractures of the shoulder region. Several interesting morphological and topographical details are given, e.g. the relationship between the cutaneous and muscular branches of the axillary nerve, and a description of the distal part of the nerve.