[TA] nerve that arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus in the axilla, passes laterally and posteriorly through the quadrangular space with the posterior circumflex humeral artery; muscular branches pass to the teres minor and wind around the surgical neck of the humerus to the deltoid; terminates as the superior lateral brachial cutaneous nerve. SYN: nervus axillaris [TA], circumflex nerve.