Underarm
| Axilla | |
|---|---|
Axilla
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| Details | |
| Artery | axillary artery |
| Vein | axillary vein |
| Nerve | axillary nerve, medial cord, posterior cord, lateral cord |
| Lymph | axillary lymph nodes |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Axilla |
| MeSH | A01.378.800.090 |
| TA | A01.1.00.021 |
| FMA | 24864 |
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Anatomical terminology
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The axilla (also, armpit, underarm or oxter) is the area on the human body directly under the joint where the arm connects to the shoulder. It also provides the under-arm sweat gland.
In humans, the formation of body odor happens mostly in the axillary region. These odorant substances serve as pheromones which play a role related to mating. The underarm regions seem more important than the genital region for body odor which may be related to human bipedalism.
Anatomically, the boundaries of the axilla are:
posteriorly: by the subscapularis above, and teres major and latissimus dorsi below
The lower posterior boundary is called the posterior axillary fold and this is a compound structure consisting of the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles.It can descend after weight loss.
The anterior boundary is called the anterior axillary fold and this is rounded in shape and formed by the lower border of the pectoralis major. Some sources also include the pectoralis minor.It can elongate after weight loss.
The contents of the axilla include the axillary vein and artery, as well as the brachial plexus, lymph nodes and fat. The axilla is the space between the side of the thorax and the upper arm.
The term "underarm" typically refers to the outer surface of the axilla. However, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in casual contexts. Colloquially, underarm refers to the hollow beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder.
The term oxter is used in the Scots language instead of "axilla".
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Wikipedia