PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Uluer, Tuğba
AU  - Aktekin, Mustafa
AU  - Kurtoğlu, Zeliha
AU  - Buluklu, Semih
AU  - Karşıyaka, Dilan
AU  - Can, Erdem
TI  - Axillary nerve course and position in the fetal period
AID  - 10.17712/nsj.2015.4.20150007
DP  - 2015 Oct 01
TA  - Neurosciences Journal
PG  - 396--399
VI  - 20
IP  - 4
4099  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/20/4/396.short
4100  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/20/4/396.full
SO  - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2015 Oct 01; 20
AB  - Objectives: To examine the fetal axillary nerve to reveal and compare its morphometric features within the second and third trimester.Methods: This study was conducted at the Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. Thirty-five fetal shoulders were studied to provide anatomic data and to describe its position with regard to certain landmarks around the shoulder.Results: The shortest distance between the axillary nerve and the glenoid labrum was found 2.27 mm and 2.89 mm in the second and third trimester fetuses, respectively. The shortest distances between the anterior and posterior acromial tips and the axillary nerve were also measured and were used with arm length measurements to define the anterior and posterior indexes.Conclusion: The indexes show that the distance between the axillary nerve and the anterior/posterior acromial tips are approximately one-fourth of the arm length in both the second and third trimester fetuses. The data presented in this study will be of use to surgeons, particularly to pediatric and orthopedic surgeons who will undertake surgical procedures in the axilla and arm in the newborn or early childhood.