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# Posterior axillary nodes

The posterior (subscapular) axillary nodes lie on the back wall of the armpit; they drain the upper back, the back of the shoulder and the lower neck.

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## What it is

Nodes on the back wall of the armpit, along the subscapular vessels (level I).

## What it does

Filter lymph from the back of the shoulder, the upper back and the lower neck, then pass it to the central nodes.

## Key points

- The [thoracodorsal nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thoracodorsal-nerve/) runs among them, so it is at risk when they are removed; injury weakens latissimus dorsi
- Drain the [skin](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin/) and muscles of the upper back, the back of the shoulder and the lower nape, and sometimes part of the breast

## Key facts

**Where**
Posterior axillary wall along the subscapular vessels (level I)

**Drains**
Back of the shoulder; upper back; lower neck

**Into**
Central and [apical axillary nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/apical-axillary-nodes/)

## Relations

**Course**
Strung along the subscapular vessels and their thoracodorsal branch, from the lower border of [subscapularis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/subscapularis/) down toward the lateral border of the [scapula](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/scapula/)

**Behind**
Subscapularis and, lower down, [latissimus dorsi](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/latissimus-dorsi-muscle/) and [teres major](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/teres-major/), which form the posterior axillary wall and fold

**In front**
The fat of the axilla with the [central axillary nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/central-axillary-nodes/)

**Medial**
[Serratus anterior](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/serratus-anterior/) with the [long thoracic nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/long-thoracic-nerve/) on its surface

## How to find it

With the arm relaxed and supported, the examiner hooks the fingers over the posterior axillary fold from the front and presses them against the subscapularis and latissimus dorsi on the back wall of the axilla.

## Common problems

- Run close to the thoracodorsal nerve, which is protected when these nodes are removed.

## How it is diagnosed

Examination of the armpit and ultrasound with a needle biopsy; in breast cancer, the sentinel node is found with a tracer during surgery.

## Treatment

- Sentinel node biopsy: only the first one to three nodes are removed and checked.
- Axillary dissection (levels I–II) or radiotherapy when the nodes contain cancer; arm swelling (lymphoedema) is the main risk.

## Clinical notes

- In axillary dissection the thoracodorsal nerve and vessels pass through this group and are kept, also because they feed the latissimus dorsi flap used in breast reconstruction
- They enlarge with infections or skin tumours of the upper back and back of the shoulder, such as melanoma
- Lymphoscintigraphy for a melanoma of the upper back often maps drainage to these nodes, sometimes to both axillae

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Along which vessels do the posterior axillary nodes lie?

Along the subscapular and thoracodorsal vessels on the posterior axillary wall, between subscapularis and latissimus dorsi.

## Which nerve runs among the posterior axillary nodes and what does its injury cause?

The thoracodorsal nerve; its injury weakens latissimus dorsi (adduction, extension and medial rotation of the arm).

## Which territory drains mainly to the posterior axillary nodes?

The skin and muscles of the upper back, the back of the shoulder and the lower nape.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Latin (TA2)**
nodi axillares posteriores; nodi subscapulares TA2 5240

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Nódulos linfáticos axilares posteriores

**English (TA2)**
Posterior axillary nodes

**Also called**
subscapular nodes · subscapular axillary nodes

## Related

- [Thoracodorsal nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thoracodorsal-nerve/)

Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 61: Vasos y ganglios linfáticos del miembro superior; [Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Axillary Lymph Nodes](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559188/).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-axillary-nodes/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-axillary-nodes/