Quadrangular space

Quadrangular space
Suprascapular and axillary nerves of right side, seen from behind. Quadrangular space is the lateral space, labeled in green at center right. Axillary nerve is visible entering it.
The scapular and circumflex arteries. (Quadrangular space is visible but not labeled. Posterior humeral circumflex artery is visible entering quadrangular space at center right.)
Identifiers
Gray's	p.589
Anatomical terminology

The quadrangular space (or quadrilateral space [of Velpeau] or foramen humerotricipitale) is an axillary space in the arm. This is a clinically important anatomic space in the arm. In the quadrangular space, the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery can be compressed or damaged due to space-occupying lesions or disruption in the anatomy due to trauma. Symptoms include axillary nerve related weakness of the deltoid muscle in the case of any significant mass lesions in the quadrangular space.

Boundaries

It is bounded by:^[1]

• above/superior: the subscapularis and teres minor. Some sources exclude the teres minor.^[2]
• below/inferior: the teres major
• medially: the long head of the triceps brachii
• laterally: the surgical neck of the humerus

Contents

It transmits the axillary nerve and posterior humeral circumflex artery.

See also

• Triangular space
• Triangular interval

Additional images

• 

  Muscles on the dorsum of the scapula, and the Triceps brachii.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• 141230158 at GPnotebook
• Quadrangular_space at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program
• Photo at umich.edu
• Diagram at wustl.edu
• Photo at tufts.edu
• Photo at ithaca.edu