ARTERIES OF UPPER LIMB

• Axillary artery
• Brachial artery
• Radial artery
• Ulnar artery
• Superficial palmar arch
• Deep palmar arch
 AXILLARY ARTERY
• Begins at lateral border of 1st rib as
continuation of subclavian artery

• Ends at lower border of Teres

major and continues as brachial
artery

• Closely related to cords of brachial

plexus.

• The pectoralis minor divide it into

3 parts
 FIRST PART OF AXILLARY ARTERY
First part extends from lateral border of first
rib to upper border of Pectoralis minor.

BRANCHES:
• SUPERIOR THORACIC ARTERY: a very small
artery and supply the pectoral muscles and
the thoracic wall.
SECOND PART OF AXILLARY ARTERY
2nd part lies behind the Pectoralis minor muscle.

BRANCHES:
• THORACOACROMIAL ARTERY: divides into 4
terminal branches
• LATERAL THORACIC ARTERY
THIRD PART OF AXILLARY ARTERY
Extend from lower border of Pectoralis minor to lower
border of Teres major.

BRANCHES:
• SUBSCAPULAR ARTERY

• ANTERIOR & POSTERIOR CIRCUMFLEX HUMERAL

ARTERIES
BRACHIAL ARTERY
• It is the Continuation of axillary artery.
• It extends from lower border of teres major
to a point in front of elbow.
• It is superficial and main arterial supply to
arm.
• It run downward & medially from medial
side of arm to front of elbow.
• It terminates opposite to neck of radius and
divide into radial & ulnar arteries.
 BRANCHES
• MUSCULAR BRANCHES: anterior compartment of
upper arm

• NUTRIENT ARTERY: Humerus

• PROFUNDA ARTERY: Arise near the beginning of

brachial artery.

• SUPERIOR ULNAR COLLATERAL ARTERY: Arise near

the middle of upper arm and accompanies ulnar nerve.

• INFERIOR ULNAR COLLATERAL ARTERY: Arise near

the termination of artery and takes part in anastomosis
around elbow joint.
ULNAR ARTERY
• It is larger of the terminal branches of brachial
artery.

• It begins in cubital fossa and descends through

anterior compartment of forearm and enters palm
in front of flexor retinaculum accompanying ulnar
nerve.

• It ends by forming superficial palmar arch.

• In upper part lies deep to flexor muscles but

below becomes superficial and lies lateral to
pisiform bone, here it is covered by skin & fascia
only.
BRANCHES
• MUSCULAR BRANCHES

• RECURRENT BRANCHES: Anastomosis around

elbow joint

• COMMON INTEROSSEOUS ARTERY: upper part

of artery. Divide into anterior & posterior
branches. Supply muscles anterior & behind the
interosseous membrane.

• Nutrient arteries for ulnar & radius bone.

 RADIAL ARTERY
• It begins in cubital fossa and pass
downward and laterally beneath
Brachioradialis, resting on deep
muscles of forearm.
• Distally it is superficial and can be
palpated.
• It reach the posterior surface of hand.

BRANCHES:
• MUSCULAR BRANCHES
• RECURRENT BRANCHES
• SUPERFICIAL PALMAR BRANCH
ARTERIES OF PALM
SUPERFICIAL PALMAR ARCH
• It Continues in palm as SUPERFICIAL
PALMAR ARCH.
• The arch curves laterally behind palmar
aponeurosis, in front of long flexor
tendons.
• Arch is completed by branches of radial
artery.
• 4 digital arteries pass to fingers
• Deep branch joins radial artery to
complete deep palmar arch.
 DEEP PALMAR ARCH
• Continuation of radial artery
• Curves medially beneath flexor tendons, in front
of metacarpal bones and interossei muscles
• Arch is completed by deep branch of ulnar
artery.
• Send some branches superiorly taking part in
wrist joint anastomosis. It also join the digital
branches of superficial palmar arch.
• On entering the palm, the radial artery gives
arteria radialis indicis , supplying lateral side
of index finger
• Arteria princeps pollicis divides into 2,
supplying lateral & medial side of thumb
THE END….!!!