International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

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 Volume 11, Issue 11 (November 2024), Pages: 176-179

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 Case Report

Unilateral observation of axillary (Langer’s) arch during dissection: A case report

 Author(s): 

 Tahani Almatrafi *, Sahar Shareef

 Affiliation(s):

 Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

 Full text

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 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3364-5880

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.11.018

 Abstract

The axilla is a clinically significant region with a complex structure. One of the most common anatomical variations in this area is Langer’s axillary arch, also known as the axillopectoral muscle, pectodorsal muscle, or arcus axillaris. During a routine dissection of an embalmed elderly female cadaver for educational purposes, we identified an unusual muscle slip originating from the latissimus dorsi. This muscle crossed over the neurovascular structures in the axilla and inserted into the pectoralis major, forming a rare axillary arch (of Langer’s). This variation can be clinically relevant, as it may cause neurovascular compression, leading to conditions like thoracic outlet syndrome, hyperabduction syndrome, or median nerve entrapment. Recognizing this arch before surgery is important in axillary and breast reconstruction procedures, allowing surgeons to decide whether to preserve or cut the arch during the operation.

 © 2024 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Axillary anatomy, Langer's arch, Neurovascular compression, Surgical implications, Anatomical variation

 Article history

 Received 27 May 2024, Received in revised form 29 October 2024, Accepted 5 November 2024

 Acknowledgment

No Acknowledgment.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

This study was conducted using cadaveric specimens obtained in compliance with the ethical standards of King Saud University and applicable national and international guidelines for the use of human remains in research and education. All cadavers used were donated to the university for academic purposes, and proper consent and institutional approval were obtained prior to dissection. The study adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant local regulations.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Almatrafi T and Shareef S (2024). Unilateral observation of axillary (Langer’s) arch during dissection: A case report. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(11): 176-179

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 Figures

 Fig. 1

 Tables

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