T2 L2: Nerve and blood supply to the upper limb (CH)

Upper Limb Blood Supply

• The subclavian artery supplies the upper limb.
• The subclavian artery passes through the scalene triangle.

Scapular Anastomosis

• The scapular anastomosis is contributed to by the suprascapular artery.
• The scapular anastomosis is formed by the anastomosis of the suprascapular artery with the deep branch of the transverse cervical artery.

Axillary Artery

• The axillary artery becomes the brachial artery at the inferior border of the teres major muscle.
• The axillary artery supplies the flexor muscles of the arm.

Brachial Plexus

• The brachial plexus carries motor and sensory information.
• The roots of the brachial plexus contain axons from multiple spinal nerves (C5-T1).
• The C5 root of the brachial plexus innervates the functional group of muscles responsible for shoulder movements.
• The rhomboids and levator scapulae muscles are innervated by the dorsal scapular nerve.
• The biceps brachii muscle is innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve.
• The flexor carpi ulnaris muscle is innervated by the ulnar nerve.
• The deltoid and teres minor muscles are innervated by the axillary nerve.
• The lateral palm of the hand and lateral 3 and 1/2 digits are innervated by the radial nerve.
• The posterior arm and posterior forearm are innervated by the radial nerve.
• The trunks of the brachial plexus divide into anterior and posterior divisions.

Arteries

• The subclavian artery is the stem artery to the upper limb.
• The subclavian artery is responsible for the arterial supply of the upper limb.
• The radial artery forms the deep palmar arch in the hand.
• The ulnar artery contributes to the superficial palmar arch in the hand.
• The radial artery is smaller than the ulnar artery.
• The radial artery passes through the anatomical snuffbox in the hand.
• The subclavian artery is a direct branch off of the arch of the aorta.
• The scalene muscle attaches to the first rib in front of the subclavian artery.
• The scalene muscle attaches to the ribs behind the subclavian artery.
• The medial part of the subclavian artery is medial to the scalene muscle.
• The vertebral artery is the first branch of the subclavian artery and supplies the brain.
• The internal thoracic artery runs down either side of the sternum on the posterior aspect.
• The thyrocervical trunk is a branch of the first part of the subclavian artery and contributes to the scapular anastomosis.

Other

• The teres major muscle divides the axillary artery into different parts.
• The radial collateral artery supplies the muscles on the posterior aspect of the arm.
• The deep brachial artery and the radial nerve travel close to the bone in the spiral groove.
• The radial artery is a branch of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa.
• The profunda brachii artery wraps around the posterior aspect of the humerus and the surgical neck of the humerus.
• The circumflex scapular artery is a branch of the axillary artery that contributes to the scapular anastomosis.
• The radial collateral artery and the middle collateral artery wrap around the surgical neck of the humerus.
• The brachial artery starts at the inferior border of the teres major muscle.
• The brachial artery supplies the flexors of the arm and forearm.
• The radial artery travels close to the interosseous membrane in the forearm.
• The flexor digitorum profundus muscle is deep to the common interosseous artery in the forearm.
• The ulnar artery continues into the superficial palmar arch.
• The ulnar artery accompanies the ulnar nerve in the forearm.
• The common interosseous artery is also referred to as the 'common interosseous artery'.