An unusual high bifurcation and variable branching of the axillary artery in a Greek male cadaver

INTRODUCTION: The axillary artery presents abnormalities in its origin and course and a variable branching. CASE DESCRIPTION: A rare case of axillary artery bifurcation and branching was observed in a 60-years-old European male cadaver of Greek origin. The right axillary artery at the second part was bifurcated into a superficial and a deep brachial artery. The superficial brachial artery anteromedial to the median nerve and lateral to the ulnar nerve gave off the acromio-thoracic artery and two lateral thoracic arteries. The deep brachial artery behind the median nerve, after giving rise to the anterior circumflex humeral artery trifurcated into a branch that coursed distally, the posterior circumflex humeral artery and the subscapular artery. The latter subdivided into the circumflex scapular artery, a muscular branch for the subscapularis and the thoracodorsal artery. The continuation of the deep brachial artery divided laterally into a humeral nutrient artery and medially into a trunk which trifurcated into the profunda brachii artery, a deep muscular branch and a branch to the posterior compartment of the arm. The profunda brachii artery ended as radial and middle collateral arteries. DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION: Deviations from the normal arterial pattern are of immense significance for anatomists, plastic, cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeons, vascular radiologists and interventional cardiologists.