IntroductionThe axillary artery presents abnormalities in its origin and course and a variable branching.Case descriptionA rare case of axillary artery bifurcation and branching was observed in a 60-years-old European male cadaver of Greek origin. The right axillary artery at the second part was bifurcated into a superficial and a deep brachial artery. The superficial brachial artery anteromedial to the median nerve and lateral to the ulnar nerve gave off the acromio-thoracic artery and two lateral thoracic arteries. The deep brachial artery behind the median nerve, after giving rise to the anterior circumflex humeral artery trifurcated into a branch that coursed distally, the posterior circumflex humeral artery and the subscapular artery. The latter subdivided into the circumflex scapular artery, a muscular branch for the subscapularis and the thoracodorsal artery. The continuation of the deep brachial artery divided laterally into a humeral nutrient artery and medially into a trunk which trifurcated into the profunda brachii artery, a deep muscular branch and a branch to the posterior compartment of the arm. The profunda brachii artery ended as radial and middle collateral arteries.Discussion and evaluationDeviations from the normal arterial pattern are of immense significance for anatomists, plastic, cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeons, vascular radiologists and interventional cardiologists.

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Aim: Normal adrenocortical responsiveness to stress involves glucocorticoid negative feedback to terminate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. Hypothyroidism is associated with a centrally mediated adrenal insufficiency associated. The aim of this study was to examine whether this may be explained by a disturbed glucocorticoid feedback through specific brain receptors: the mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Methods: Cytosolic receptor binding and gene expression was assessed in male Sprague-Dawley rats (350gm) with short- (7 days) and long-standing (60 days) hypothyroidism (thyroidectomy). Glucocorticoid receptor number and binding affinity in the hippocampus were measured using radioreceptor assay. In situ hybridization was employed to examine GR and MRmRNA levels in the hippocampus and the pituitary. Results: No differences in receptor number or affinity were observed after 7days and 60days treatment. Increased GRmRNA expression in the anterior pituitary was observed in 7day hypothyroid rats under basal conditions compared to euthyroid rats (122.77+4.93 vs 99.65+4.83 DPM/mg; p<0.05), which was associated with significantly decreased GRmRNA levels after osmotic stress (100.82+2.8 vs 110.48+4.1 DPM/mg; p<0.05). No differences were observed at 60days. No effect on MR mRNA expression in the hippocampus was seen in basal condition after both 7- and 60days hypothyroidism. MRmRNA was significantly decreased in 60 days-hypothyroid rats compared to euthyroid after normal saline (3995.67+131.54 vs 5121.00+505.2 DPM/mg; p<0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism resulted in significant changes in GR and MR mRNA levels, in the hippocampus and the pituitary, without changes in receptor number and binding affinity.