Unilateral unusual branching pattern of the axillary artery: a case report.

The axillary artery is the continuation of the subclavian artery in the upper limb on both the sides of the human body. The axillary artery gives off six branches along with two terminal branches, but manifests various branching patterns, knowledge of which is useful for clinicians. A formalin fixed donated cadaver was used and the axillary region was dissected according to Cunningham's Manual of Practical Anatomy. This case report describes a unilateral common trunk arising from the second part of the axillary artery, giving off lateral thoracic, posterior circumflex humeral, circumflex scapular, and thoracodorsal arteries. The present study also presents an embryological interpretation of the current variation. These variations are accidental findings discovered during dissection, but knowledge of them is useful for clinicians performing any surgical procedures in the axillary region.