Jornal Vascular Brasileiro
http://www.jvb.periodikos.com.br/article/doi/10.1590/1677-5449.202500682
Jornal Vascular Brasileiro
Relato de Caso

A rare axillary artery branching variation: case report in a Brazilian cadaver

Variação rara na ramificação da artéria axilar: relato de caso em cadáver brasileiro

Gabriel Vitório de Araújo Suassuna; Clara Medeiros Midena; Wigínio Gabriel de Lira Bandeira; Mauro Bezerra Montello; Bento João da Graça Azevedo Abreu; Judney Cley Cavalcante

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Abstract

Knowledge of vascularization is essential for surgical planning and interventional procedures in the axillary region. The axillary artery gives off branches supplying the shoulder, thoracic wall, and scapula. It then continues as the brachial artery, which furnishes branches to the arm and elbow. Minor variations in these branches are common. However, dissection of a formalin-fixed right upper limb revealed an axillary artery that bifurcated into a superficial brachial artery, which did not give off any branches, and a posterior trunk, that gave rise to all the branches typically originating from the third part of the axillary artery and the brachial artery, including the subscapular artery, the humeral circumflex arteries, the deep brachial artery, and the collateral ulnar arteries. This rare vascular arrangement has not been previously described in Brazil. Awareness of these variations may prevent diagnostic errors and injuries during surgeries.

Keywords

anatomical variations; axillary artery; brachial artery; human anatomy; upper limb

Resumo

O conhecimento da vascularização é essencial para o planejamento cirúrgico e a realização de procedimentos intervencionistas na região axilar. A artéria axilar origina ramos que suprem o ombro, a parede torácica e a escápula, continuando-se então como artéria braquial, que fornece ramos para o braço e o cotovelo. Pequenas variações nesses ramos são comuns. No entanto, a dissecção de um membro superior direito fixado em formol revelou uma artéria axilar que se bifurcava em uma artéria braquial superficial, sem ramos, e em um tronco posterior, responsável por todos os ramos que tipicamente se originam da terceira porção da artéria axilar e da artéria braquial, incluindo a artéria subescapular, as artérias circunflexas umerais, a artéria braquial profunda e as artérias colaterais ulnares. Esse arranjo vascular raro não havia sido descrito anteriormente na literatura brasileira. O conhecimento dessas variações pode prevenir erros diagnósticos e lesões durante cirurgias.

Palavras-chave

variações anatômicas; artéria axilar; artéria braquial; anatomia humana; membro superior

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Submetido em:
09/05/2025

Aceito em:
08/08/2025

Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular (SBACV)"> Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular (SBACV)">
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