A Prominent Fleshy Axillary Arch Muscle with Tendinous Intersection

Abstract

Axillary arch muscle or Langer’s axillary arch is a fibromuscular structure that stretches across the axilla from its posterior wall to the anterior wall. We report an unusually large and fleshy axillary arch muscle. This muscle arose from the latissimus dorsi and got inserted into the pectoralis major, short head of biceps brachii and capsule of shoulder joint through three tendinous slips. It was supplied by a branch of thoracodorsal nerve. Notable feature of the muscle is that it had a tendinous intersection at its junction with the latissimus dorsi. This muscle is capable of compressing the neurovascular bundle of the axilla, causing varied symptoms. Knowledge of its possible existence is important for surgeons as it might lead to misdiagnosis.