The Arteries of the Upper Limb PDF

THE ARTERIES OF THE UPPER LIMB N  VESSELS IN THE AXILLA/ARM Axillary artery: The axillary artery which supplies the walls of the axilla and related regions, continues as the major blood supply to the more distal parts of the upper limb. It begins as a continuation of the subclavi...

THE ARTERIES OF THE UPPER LIMB N  VESSELS IN THE AXILLA/ARM Axillary artery: The axillary artery which supplies the walls of the axilla and related regions, continues as the major blood supply to the more distal parts of the upper limb. It begins as a continuation of the subclavian artery at the lateral margin of first rib and passes through the axilla, to become the brachial artery at the inferior margin of the teres major muscle. The artery’s three parts (divided by the pectoralis minor muscle, which crosses it anteriorly): (a )the first part is proximal to pectoralis minor (b) second part, posterior to pectoralis minor (c) the third part, distal to pectoralis minor. The axillary artery is accompanied by the axillary vein as the vein lies anteromedial to the artery. The first part of the artery is crossed by two tributaries of the axillary vein, namely the cephalic vein and the thoracoacromial vein. The first and second parts of the artery are related to the cords of the plexus; and the third part of the artery to their branches. Branches:Superior thoracic artery (1 st part). Thoracoacromial artery& Lateral thoracic artery (2 nd part). Subscapular artery, Anterior circumflex humeral artery & Posterior circumflex humeral artery (3 rd part) Areas supplied: pectoral muscles and part of the thoracic wall, the subclavius and the sternoclavicular joint, the serratus anterior and the axillary lymph nodes, the breast, the shoulder joint.  VESSELS IN THE ARM CONT’D Brachial artery: the main artery of the arm, is the continuation of the axillary artery at the lower border of the teres major. It is relatively superficial throughout its course, hence palpable. In its later course, it is accompanied by the the median nerve, which crosses it anteriorly. it terminates (at the level of the neck of the radius) by dividing into the radial and ulnar arteries. Branches: The profunda brachii artery, humeral nutrient artery, supratrochlear artery, superior & inferior ulnar collateral arteries, numerous unnamed muscular branches.  VESSELS IN THE FOREARM Uinar artery: arise as terminal branch of brachial artery in cubital fossa. It passes inferomedially and later directly inferiorly, below pronator teres, palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis to reach medial side of forearm; Then passes superficial to flexor retinaculum at wrist in ulnar (Guyon) canal to enter hand. Branches: The anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries, the common interosseous artery, the palmar and dorsal carpal branches of the ulnar artery  VESSELS IN THE FOREARM CONT’D Radial artery: its pulsations can be felt throughout the forearm. It lies on brachioradialis until it reaches the distal part of the forearm. Its course is represented by a line joining the midpoint of the cubital fossa to a point just medial to the radial styloid process. Branches: The radial recurrent artery, the palmar and dorsal carpal branches of the radial artery and several unnamed muscular branches. VEINS OF UPPERLIMB Superficial veins of the upper limb  APPLIED ANATOMY  The arterial supply to the upper limb is particularly susceptible to trauma in places where it is relatively fixed or in a subcutaneous position.  Anterior dislocation of the humeral head may compress the axillary artery resulting in vessel occlusion.  Radial pulse can be felf mostly on the ventral aspect of the wrist(b/w tendons of FCR and the lower lateral aspect of the radius). The artery here is most commonly used for aterial cannulation( for B.P monitoring and arterial blood sampling)