Arteries of the Upper Limb PDF

ARTERIES OF THE UPPER LIMB • The arterial supply to the upper limb begins in the chest as the subclavian artery. • The right subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk, while the left subclavian branches directly off the arch of aorta. In the Axilla The axillary artery passes throug...

ARTERIES OF THE UPPER LIMB • The arterial supply to the upper limb begins in the chest as the subclavian artery. • The right subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk, while the left subclavian branches directly off the arch of aorta. In the Axilla The axillary artery passes through the axilla, just underneath the pectoralis minor muscle, enclosed in the axillary sheath. • At the level of the humeral surgical neck, the posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries arise. • They circle posteriorly around the humerus to supply the shoulder region. • The largest branch of the axillary artery also arises here – the subscapular artery. • The axillary artery becomes the brachial artery at the level of the teres major muscle. In the Upper Arm • When the axillary artery reaches the lower border of the teres major, it becomes the brachial artery. • The brachial artery is the main source of blood for the arm. • Immediately distal to the teres major, the brachial artery gives rise to the profunda brachii – the deep artery of the arm. • It travels along the posterior surface of the humerus, running in the radial groove. • It supplies structures in the posterior aspect of the arm (the triceps brachii), and terminates by contributing to a network of vessels at the elbow joint. • The brachial artery descends down the arm immediately posterior to the median nerve. • As it crosses the cubital fossa, underneath the brachialis muscle, the brachial artery terminates by bifurcating into the radial and ulnar arteries. In the Forearm • In the distal region of the cubital fossa, the brachial artery bifurcates into the radial artery and the ulnar artery. • The radial artery supplies the posterior aspect of the forearm and the ulnar artery supplies the anterior aspect. • The two arteries anastomose in the hand, by forming two arches, the superficial palmar arch, and the deep palmar arch. In the Hand • The hand has a very good blood supply, with many anastomosing arteries, allowing the hand to be perfused when grasping or applying pressure. • A good majority of these arteries are superficial, allowing for heat loss when needed. • In the hand, the ulnar and radial arteries interconnect to form two arches, from which branches to the digits emerge. In the Hand • Radial artery – contributes mainly to supply of the thumb and the lateral side of the index finger • Ulnar artery – contributes mainly to the supply of the rest of the digits, and the medial side of the index finger In the Hand • The ulnar artery moves into the hand anteriorly to the flexor retinaculum, and laterally to the ulnar nerve. • In the hand, it divides into two branches, the superficial palmar arch, and the deep palmar branch. In the Hand • From the superficial palmar arch, common palmar digital arteries arise, supplying the digits. • The superficial palmar arch then anastamoses with a branch of the radial artery. • The superficial palmar arch is found anteriorly to the flexor tendons in the hand, deep to the palmar aponeurosis. In the Hand • The radial artery enters the hand dorsally, crossing the floor of the anatomical snuffbox. • It turns medially and moves between the heads of the adductor pollicis. • The radial artery then anastamoses with the deep palmar branch of the ulnar artery, forming the deep palmar arch, which gives rise to five arteries supplying the digits.