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Arteries of the upper limb

Axillary artery

  • Continuation of subclavian artery
  • Runs from lateral border of first rib to lower border of teres major
  • Pectoralis minor crosses anterior to it and divides it into three parts

Branches of axillary artery

  • First part
    • Highest thoracic artery
  • Second part
    • Lateral thoracic artery
    • Thoracoacromial artery
  • Third part
    • Subscapular artery
    • Anterior circumflex humeral artery
    • Posterior circumflex humeral artery
  • Collateral circulation around the scapula
  • Branches of first part of Subclavian artery anastomose with branches of the third part of axillary artery

Brachial artery

  • Continuation of the axillary artery
  • Runs from lower border of teres major to neck of radius
  • Ends by dividing into radial and ulnar arteries

Branches of the brachial artery

  • Profunda brachi which travels in the radial groove of humerus
  • Superior ulnar collateral artery o Inferior ulnar collateral artery
  • Nutrient artery to humerus
  • Terminal branches are radial and ulnar arteries

Relations

  • Median nerve crosses anterior to it from lateral to medial side at the level of mid arm

Ulnar artery

  • Gives rise to common interosseous artery
  • Continues as the superficial palmar arch in the hand

Radial artery

  • Continues as the deep palmar arch in the hand Median artery
  • Vestigial in adult life
  • Arises from the anterior interosseous branch of common interosseous artery
  • Provides nutrition to Median nerve
  • Chief source of blood supply to the upper limb in foetal life
  • Passes anterior to carpal tunnel

Author:  Dr Shakeeb Khan

 

 
 

Last updated: 05 January 2008

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