diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
index 42208cd1e71b..d2dec622cd80 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
@@ -6372,9 +6372,9 @@ def arrow(self, x, y, dx, dy, **kwargs):
            arrow(x, y, dx, dy, **kwargs)
 
         Draws arrow on specified axis from (*x*, *y*) to (*x* + *dx*,
-        *y* + *dy*).
+        *y* + *dy*). Uses FancyArrow patch to construct the arrow.
 
-        Optional kwargs control the arrow properties:
+        Optional kwargs control the arrow construction and properties:
 
         %(FancyArrow)s
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/patches.py b/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
index 9bbbddc44f2f..d4ad79d808f6 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
@@ -920,21 +920,30 @@ def __init__(self, x, y, dx, dy, width=0.001, length_includes_head=False, \
         head_starts_at_zero=False,**kwargs):
         """
         Constructor arguments
+          *width*: float (default: 0.001)
+            width of full arrow tail
 
-            *length_includes_head*:
-               *True* if head is counted in calculating the length.
+          *length_includes_head*: [True | False] (default: False)
+            True if head is to be counted in calculating the length.
 
-            *shape*: ['full', 'left', 'right']
+          *head_width*: float or None (default: 3*width)
+            total width of the full arrow head
 
-            *overhang*:
-              distance that the arrow is swept back (0 overhang means
-              triangular shape).
+          *head_length*: float or None (default: 1.5 * head_width)
+            length of arrow head
 
-            *head_starts_at_zero*:
-              If *True*, the head starts being drawn at coordinate 0
-              instead of ending at coordinate 0.
+          *shape*: ['full', 'left', 'right'] (default: 'full')
+            draw the left-half, right-half, or full arrow
 
-        Valid kwargs are:
+          *overhang*: float (default: 0)
+            fraction that the arrow is swept back (0 overhang means
+            triangular shape). Can be negative or greater than one.
+
+          *head_starts_at_zero*: [True | False] (default: False)
+            if True, the head starts being drawn at coordinate 0
+            instead of ending at coordinate 0.
+
+        Other valid kwargs (inherited from :class:`Patch`) are:
         %(Patch)s
 
         """