Underarm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Underarm | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Female's underarm | |
| Latin | axilla |
| Gray's | subject #149 585 |
| Artery | axillary artery |
| Vein | axillary vein |
| Nerve | axillary nerve, medial cord, posterior cord, lateral cord |
| Lymph | axillary lymph nodes |
| MeSH | Axilla |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | a_76/12171908 |
The underarm (or armpit, axilla, or oxter) is the area on the human body directly under the joint where the arm connects to the shoulder.
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[edit] Boundaries
Anatomically, the axilla has the following boundaries:
- anteriorly: by the pectoralis major, minor, and subclavius muscles.
- posteriorly: by the subscapularis, teres major, latissimus dorsi, and the scapula
- medially: by the ribcage and by the serratus anterior.
- laterally: by the coracobrachialis, the short head of the biceps brachii, and intertubercular groove
- inlet/apex: by the first rib, scapula, clavicle
- floor/base: by the skin (visible surface of armpit)
[edit] Underarm hair
Underarm hair usually grows in the underarms of both males and females, beginning in adolescence, though it is common in some societies for women to remove it for aesthetic reasons, while men tend to keep it.
Recently many men in the US and Europe have begun to remove underarm hair due to popularization by hairless male models and athletes.
[edit] Body odor
Body odor develops in the underarms due in part to the waste products of microorganisms that feed on sebum, the fatty secretions produced by apocrine glands. The native microorganisms are regarded as an ecoorgan.
A wide variety of deodorant and antiperspirant products are sold for the purpose of mitigating this odor.
[edit] Cultural significance
The underarms are among the locations in the human body which are most vulnerable to tickling. The underarms are generally very ticklish.
The sexual attraction to the underarms is called axillism or maschalophilous.
[edit] Terminology
The term oxter, pronounced 'oakster' is most often used in Scotland, northern England, and Ireland, though it is rare.
The term "underarm" only refers to the outer surface of the axilla.[1] However, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in casual contexts.
Colloquially, armpit refers to an object or place which is smelly, greasy or otherwise undesirable.
[edit] See also
- Underarm hair
- Whacle
[edit] Additional images
 Superficial muscles of the chest and front of the arm. |
 Deep muscles of the chest and front of the arm, with the boundaries of the axilla. |
 Axillary artery and its branches - anterior view of right upper limb and thorax. |
 The veins of the right axilla, viewed from in front. |
 The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front. |
 The left side of the thorax. |
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[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Dictionary at eMedicine axilla
- Norman/Georgetown lesson3axilla
- Norman/Georgetown lesson3axillarywalls
