ARTERIES OF THE

UPPER LIMB
Group 10
Content
Introduction
Origin
Course
Termination
Relations
Branches
Clinical Anatomy
INTRODUCTION
Arteries are distributing channels which carry blood away from heart.
They contain oxygenated blood.

The main artery supplying blood to the upper limb is Subclavian Artery.
The trunk of the subclavian artery is continuous throughout the entire upper
limb.
During its pathway ,the artery changes its name based on the region it supplies.
Thus, the major named arteries of the upper limb are:
1. Axillary Artery
2. Brachial Artery
3. Radial Artery
4. Ulnar Artery
Subclavian artery
The Subclavian arteries are paired major arteries of thorax
below the clavicle.
They receive blood from the aortic arch.
The left subclavian artery supplies blood to the right arm
with some branches supplying the head and the thorax.
On the left side of the body, the subclavian comes directly
off the aortic arch,while on the right side it arises from the
relatively short brachiocephalic artery when it bifurcates
into subclavian and right common carotid artery.
Axillary Artery
Axillary artery is the main artery of the upper limb. Is the continuation
of the subclavian artery.
ORIGIN
It begins at the outer border of 1 st rib.
Course
It runs in the axilla ,from its apex to the base along the lateral wall
nearer to the anterior wall than the posterior wall.
Termination
It terminates at the lower border of teres major muscle where it
continues as brachial artery.
Parts
The pectoralis minor muscle crosses the artery & divides it
into 3 parts :-
1st part ,proximal to the muscle,
2ndpart ,deep to the muscle &
3rd part , distal to the muscle .

RELATIONS OF AXILLARY ARTERY

Relations of 1st part
Anteriorly :-
1. Skin
2. Superficial fascia
3. Deep fascia
4. Clavicular part of pectoralis major
5. Loop of communication between lateral & medial pectoral nerves.
Posteriorly :-
1. Medial cord of brachial plexus
2. Long thoracic nerve
3. Serratus anterior

Medially:-
4. Axillary vein

Laterally :-
5. Lateral & Posterior cord of brachial plexus .
Relations of 2nd part
Anteriorly :-
6. Pectoralis minor

Posteriorly :-
7. Posterior cord of brachial plexus
8. Subscapularis
Medially :-
1. Medial cord of brachial plexus
2. Axillary vein
Laterally :-
3. Lateral cord of brachial plexus

Relations of 3rd part

Anteriorly :-
4. Medial root of median nerve

Posteriorly :-
5. Radial nerve
6. Axillary nerve
7. Subscapularis
8. Teres major
Medially :-
1. Axillary vein
2. Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
3. Ulnar nerve

Laterally :-
4. Musculocutaneous nerve
Branches
1. Superior Thoracic Artery
2. Thoracoacromial Artery
3. Lateral Thoracic Artery
4. Subscapular Artery
5. Anterior Circumflex Humeral Artery
6. Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery
Clinical Aspect

Axillary arterial pulsation

Brachial Artery
Brachial artery is the main artery of the arm.

Origin:
It begins at the lower border of the teres major muscle as a continuation of axillary artery.
Course:
It runs downwards and laterally in the front of arm and crosses the elbow joint.
Termination:
It terminates at the level of the neck of radius in the cubital fossa by dividing into its
2 terminal branches ,the radial and ulnar arteries.
Relations

Anteriorly – In the upper part, it is related to the medial cutaneous

nerve ,which lies in front of it.
- In the middle part, it is crossed by the median nerve from lateral to
medial side.
- In the lower part, in the cubital fossa, it is crossed by bicipital
aponeurosis.
Posteriorly – From above downwards the brachial artery lies
successively on long head of triceps, medial head of
triceps,coracobrachialis and brachialis muscles.
Medially – The ulnar nerve and basilic vein in the upper part of the arm.
Laterally – Median nerve, coracobrachialis and biceps in the upper part of arm
and tendon of biceps in the lower part.
Branches
1. Muscular Branches
2. Profunda Brachii Artery
3. Nutrient Artery to Humerus
4. Superior Ulnar Collateral Artery
5. Inferior Ulnar Collateral Artery
6. Radial and Ulnar Arteries.
Clinical Aspect
Brachial pulse
copression of brachial artery
Rupture of the brachial artery in supracondylar
fracture.
Radial Artery
It is artery of the lateral side of the forearm.
ORIGIN
It arises in the cubital fossa, 1cm below the bend of the elbow,as a smaller terminal
branch of brachial artery.
COURSE
It runs downwards along the lateral side of the front of forearm to reach the distal
end of radius.
It leaves the forearm by turning posteriorly and entering the anatomical snuff box.
TERMINATION
It enters the palm by passing between the two heads of 1 st dorsal interosseous
muscles and terminates by forming the deep palmar arch.
RELATIONS
Anteriorly – It is overlapped by the brachioradialis in its upper part ,
but in the lower half , it is covered only by skin , superficial and deep
fasciae.
Posteriorly – It is related to the muscle attached to the anterior
surface of radius I.e biceps brachii, flexor pollicis longus, flexor
digitorum superficialis and pronator quadratus.
Medially – It is related to the pronator teres in the upper 1/3 rd and the
tendon of flexor carpi radialis in the lower 2/3 rd of its course.
Laterally – Brachioradialis in the whole extent and the radial nerve in
the middle 1/3rd .
BRANCHES

1. Radial recurrent artery

2. Dorsal carpal branch
3. Palmar carpal branch
4. First dorsal metacarpal artery – on dorsum of hand
5. Superficial palmar branch
6. Arteria princeps pollicis
7. Arteria radialis indicis
Clinical Aspect
1. Examination of radial pulse
2. Volkmann’s ischemic contracture .
Ulnar artery
It is largest terminal branch of the brachial artery.

ORIGIN
It arise in the cubital fossa at the level of neck of radius 1 cm below behind the elbow.
COURSE
In the upper 1/3 rd it runs obliquely downwards and medially while in the lower 2/3 rd it
runs vertically downwards along the medial side of the front forearm and to the
lateral side of pisiform bone.
TERMINATION
It enters palm by passing superficial to flexor retinaculum in the palm it forms
superficial palmar arch.
 RELATIONS

Anteriorly , in its upper half the artery is deep and covered by

muscles arising from lower of the artery is superficial covered only
skin and fascia.

Posteriorly , it lines on brachialis on the flexor digitorum profundus.

Medially , it is related to the ulnar nerve to the flexor carpi ulnaris.

Laterally , it is related to the flexor digitorum superficialis median

nerve
BRANCHES
1. Anterior ulnar recurrent artery
2. Posterior ulnar recurrent artery
3. Common interosseous artery
4. Palmar interosseous artery
5. Palmar carpal branch
6. Dorsal carpal branch.
Clinical Aspect

Aberrant Ulnar artery