What is the purpose of armpit?

One of the warmest areas of the body, the armpit, or axilla, performs its most important function as home to more than 20 lymph nodes called the axillary lymph nodes . The axillary lymph nodes oversee the regulation and filtration of lymph through the upper limbs and back.

Why do doctors check under your armpits?

A lymph node ultrasound and biopsy is a way of checking the lymph nodes under the arm (axilla). Sometimes the cancer cells can spread into the nearby lymph nodes. A lymph node is part of the lymphatic system. This is a network of thin tubes (vessels) and nodes that carry a clear fluid called lymph around the body.

What is the medical term for under armpit?

The armpit is also called the axilla. Blood and lymph vessels serving the arm travel through the armpit. There are more than 20 lymph nodes (small lumps of tissue that are part of the body’s lymphatic system, which helps fight infection) in the armpit.

What do sore armpits mean?

Pain in your armpit could mean that you’ve simply strained a muscle, which is eased with ice and rest. It could also be a sign of more serious conditions, like an infection or breast cancer.

What does a rubbery lymph node mean?

Lymph nodes that are smooth and relatively soft, but slightly enlarged, may be normal and reveal only hyperplasia when biopsied. Enlarged lymph nodes that have an irregular shape and a rubbery, hard consistency may be infiltrated by malignant cells. Tender nodes are suggestive of an inflammatory process.

What is the difference between armpit and underarm?

Your armpit is the area underneath your upper arm, where it connects to your shoulder. Another common word for armpit is “underarm,” while the official anatomical term is axilla.

Are there bones in your armpit?

Bones: The upper ribs and the head of the humerus (upper bone of the arm) both border the axilla.

Why is there an armpit on your body?

Your armpit is there because you have a joint at your shoulder. If you didn’t have an armpit, your arm would either be fused to your side or stuck straight out from your body at some angle. We have apocrine and eccrine glands in our armpits which produce sweat and sebum. We also have hair follicles which produce (surprise) hair.

Why do we have hair follicles in our armpits?

We have apocrine and eccrine glands in our armpits which produce sweat and sebum. We also have hair follicles which produce (surprise) hair. Producing sweat is important to the thermoregulation of the body; producing sebum is important to the health and waterproofing of our skin.

Can armpit hair help you find a mate?

Armpit hair may actually help catch you a mate. This is because the armpits release an odor containing pheromones, a naturally-producing chemical that plays a role in sexual attraction. By leaving the armpit hair intact, you’re helping trap odor, since moisture (sweat) attaches to hair. This makes the pheromones even stronger.

What structures and tissues are found in the armpit?

Structures and tissues found in the armpit include: Muscles: Towards the back of the axilla are the teres major and latissimus dorsi muscles. Blood vessels: Both veins and arteries travel through this region.