Abstract
During a wide study of the arterial variations in the Greek population, we examined the arterial trunks, arising from the subclavian and axillary arteries.150 cadavers were examined by the Forensic Service of Athens University.
SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY
The focal point of our research was the origin of the inferior thyroid, the suprascapular and the transversal cervical artery. In 6.6% of our cases all three of the mentioned arteries had a common origin. As far as the rest 93.4% is concerned, we came to the following conclusions:
A. There was only one trunk without the participation of the pleurocervical trunk (81.3%)
1. The thyrocervical trunk is formed by the inferior thyroid, the suprascapular and the transversal cervical branches (classical anatomic knowledge) (33.3%)
2. The internal mammary artery arises from the thyrocervical trunk (9.3%)
3. The trunk is formed by the inferior thyroid and the suprascapular artery (26.6%)
4. The trunk is formed by the inferior thyroid, the supra-scapular and the internal mammary artery (6.6%)
5. There are two trunks: the first one is formed by the inferior thyroid and the suprascapular and the second one by the transversal cervical and the internalmammary artery (2.6%)
6. There are two trunks: the first one is formed by the inferior thyroid and the transversal cervical artery and the second one by the suprascapular and the internal mammary artery (4%)
B. Participation of the pleurocervical trunk (12%)
1. The transversal cervical artery with the pleurocervical trunk (6%)
2. The pleurocervical trunk arises from the internal mammary artery (2%)
3. The pleurocervical trunk with the suprascapular artery (1.3%)
4. The inferior thyroid artery with the pleurocervical trunk (1.3%)
5. The pleurocervical trunk with the inferior thyroid and the suprascapular artery (1.3%)
AXILLARY ARTERY
As far as the axillary is concerned, the 12% of the cadavers follow the basic model. As far as the rest of the cases are concerned, we concluded that:
A. Some branches form common trunks (48%)
1. The lateral thoracic and the dorsothoracic artery form a common trunk (11.3%)
2. The lateral thoracic together with the subscapular artery form a common trunk (9.3%)
3. The subscapular and the posterior circumflex brachial artery (9.3%)
4. Both the circumflex brachial arteries form a common trunk (18%) B. The arteries of the arm arise from the axillary artery (21.3%)
1. The profunda brachial artery arises from the axillary artery (11.3%)
2. The superficial brachial artery arises from the axillary artery (5.3%)
3. The profunda brachial artery arises from the posterior circumflex brachial artery (4.6%) C. Special cases (18.6%)
1. There are supplementary branches in the parries (5.3%)
2. Separate origin of the circumflex scapular artery and the dorsothoracic artery (5.3%)
3. The dorsothoracic artery is short compared to the lateral thoracic artery (2.6%)
4. The posterior circumflex artery arises from the brachial artery (5.3%)
The abstracts were prepared by Eleni Koutsoukou. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST), 20, A. Fleming str, 15123 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
