The axillary lines are the anterior axillary line, midaxillary line and the posterior axillary line.
The anterior axillary line
is a
coronal line on the anterior torso marked by the
anterior axillary fold
The axilla (: axillae or axillas; also known as the armpit, underarm or oxter) is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. It includes the axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle between the arm and th ...
. It's the imaginary line that runs down from the point midway between the middle of the
clavicle
The clavicle, collarbone, or keybone is a slender, S-shaped long bone approximately long that serves as a strut between the scapula, shoulder blade and the sternum (breastbone). There are two clavicles, one on each side of the body. The clavic ...
and the lateral end of the clavicle.
The V
5 ECG
Electrocardiography is the process of producing an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a recording of the heart's electrical activity through repeated cardiac cycles.
It is an electrogram of the heart which is a graph of voltage versus time of ...
lead is placed on the left anterior axillary line, horizontally even with V
4.
The midaxillary line is a coronal line on the torso between the anterior and posterior axillary lines.
It is a landmark used in
thoracentesis
Thoracentesis , also known as thoracocentesis (), pleural tap, needle thoracostomy, or needle decompression (often used term), is an invasive medical procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. ...
,
and the V6 electrode of the 10 electrode ECG.
The posterior axillary line is a coronal line on the posterior torso marked by the
posterior axillary fold
The axilla (: axillae or axillas; also known as the armpit, underarm or oxter) is the area on the human body directly under the shoulder joint. It includes the axillary space, an anatomical space within the shoulder girdle between the arm and th ...
.
Additional images
File:Axillary lines.png, The left side of the thorax with lines labeled
See also
*
List of anatomical lines {{short description, None
Anatomical lines, or "reference lines," are theoretical lines drawn through anatomical structures and are used to describe anatomical location. The following reference lines are identified in ''Terminologia Anatomica'': ...
References
External links
* http://www.meddean.luc.edu/Lumen/MedEd/MEDICINE/PULMONAR/apd/lines.htm
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Anatomy