Axillary lines
Imaginary line for orientation on the lateral aspect of the thorax and abdomen
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. It's the imaginary line that runs down from the point midway between the middle of the clavicle and the lateral end of the clavicle.
The V5 ECG lead is placed on the left anterior axillary line, horizontally even with V4.
The midaxillary line is a coronal line on the torso between the anterior and posterior axillary lines.
It is a landmark used in thoracentesis, 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.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Axillary lines”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Brantigan 1963 1-53.png by Brantigan, Otto C., Public domain
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