Axillary Arch (Of Langer): Incidence, Innervation, Importance

Abstract

The present study was planned to find out the incidence of accessory muscle arches in the axilla of 68 upper limb (38 right and 30 left) dissections. Langer’s arch was observed in one right limb out of the 68 limbs, total incidence was 1.47%. The arch extended from the latissimus dorsi to the fascia covering the biceps brachii. The incidence is low in South Indian population (Dravidians) compared to the various other populations reported in literature. A branch from the lateral cord of brachial plexus supplied it in contrast with the previous reports. The surgical significance of this muscle is reviewed.

Keywords

• Axilla
• Accessory muscles
• Biceps
• Lymphadenectomy
• Neurovascular bundle