Axilla facts for kids

The axilla is the scientific name for your armpit. It's the hollow area right under where your arm connects to your shoulder. Your armpit is one of the places where doctors or parents can measure your body temperature using a thermometer. Other places include your mouth, ear, or rectum.

What's Inside Your Armpit?

Even though it looks like a simple hollow, your armpit is home to several important body parts. These include:

• The axillary vein, which carries blood back to your heart.
• The axillary artery, which brings fresh blood to your arm.
• The brachial plexus, a group of nerves that help you move your arm and hand.
• Lymph nodes, which are small glands that help fight off infections.
• Some fat tissue.

Armpit Hair

When you go through puberty, hair starts to grow in your armpits. Many people, especially women, choose to shave or remove this hair. They might do this because it can look neater, especially when wearing certain clothes. However, some people prefer to keep their armpit hair for personal, cultural, or symbolic reasons.

Why Armpits Can Smell

Sometimes, your armpits can develop a smell. This happens because of tiny living things called microorganisms that live on your skin. When these microorganisms mix with sweat, they can create body odor. To help with this, many companies make deodorants or antiperspirants. These products help reduce sweat and the smell.

Fun Facts About the Armpit

Many people find their armpits to be a very ticklish spot! It's a common area where people feel ticklish when touched.

Other Names for Armpit

You might hear different words for the axilla:

• In the United Kingdom, people sometimes call the armpit an oxter.
• The word underarm usually refers to the outside part of the armpit area.
• The word armpit itself can also be used to describe a place or object that is smelly or greasy, not just the body part.

See also

In Spanish: Axila para niños