Axillary nerve course and position in the fetal period. An anatomic dissection study for surgical practice.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the fetal axillary nerve to reveal and compare its morphometric features within the second and third trimester.


METHODS
This study was conducted at the Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. Thirty-five fetal shoulders were studied to provide anatomic data and to describe its position with regard to certain landmarks around the shoulder.


RESULTS
The shortest distance between the axillary nerve and the glenoid labrum was found 2.27 mm and 2.89 mm in the second and third trimester fetuses, respectively. The shortest distances between the anterior and posterior acromial tips and the axillary nerve were also measured and were used with arm length measurements to define the anterior and posterior indexes.


CONCLUSIONS
The indexes show that the distance between the axillary nerve and the anterior/posterior acromial tips are approximately one-fourth of the arm length in both the second and third trimester fetuses. The data presented in this study will be of use to surgeons, particularly to pediatric and orthopedic surgeons who will undertake surgical procedures in the axilla and arm in the newborn or early childhood.
Department of Anatomy, Mersin University, Yenisehir Campus, Yenisehir, Atasehir, Turkey.
Tugba
T
Uluer
Mustafa
M
Aktekin
Zeliha
Z
Kurtoglu
Semih
S
Buluklu
Dilan
D
Karsiyaka
Erdem
E
Can
D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male