BLOOD SUPPLY ARM
Once the subclavian artery passes under the clavicle it is in the armpit region & is referred to
as Axillary artery
Axillary artery is relatively short & runs approximately the length of scapula
As axillary artery exits the armpit area, it becomes the brachial artery
Most of brachial artery runs along anterior surface of arm, but there is a branch - deep
brachial artery - supplying muscles of arm
ARTERIES
Brachial artery → radial artery & ulnar artery(in cubital fossa) → superficial palmar arch & deep
plamar arch → metacarpal arteries → digital arteries
Deep brachial artery branches from brachial artery
Interosseous artery branches from ulnar artery
o Dividing into anterior & posterior interosseus
Radial artery
proximal half: runs below brachioradialis
Middle: runs with radial nerve
Distal: superficial- only covered by deep fascia, superficial fascia and skin
Radial artery branches
o Radial recurrent artery → elbow joint & muscles on lateral forearm
o Palmar carpal branch → carpal bones & joints
o Superficial palmar arch → superficial to thenar muscles of thumb, anastomoses with
superficial palmar arch of ulnar artery
Ulnar artery
Medial side of forearm
Leaves cubital fossa deep to pronator teres
Passes between flexor carpi ulnarisa & flexor digitorum profundus
Supplies medial three & one half digits
Branches:
o Ulnar recurrent → elbow joint
o Muscular arteries supplying muscles
, o Common interosseous artery → two carpal arteries supplying wrist
o Posterior interosseous artery → posterior forearm
o Anterior interosseous artery → anterior aspect of interosseous membrane
Supplies deep muscles of anterior forearm, radius and ulna
o In distal forearm → perforates interosseous membrane to join posterior
interosseous artery
VEINS
Superficial
o Superficial venous palmar arch
o Cephalic (lateral)
o Basilic (medial)
o Median cubital antebrachial vein
Median cubital vein → runs across the middle of anterior arm (mainly take blood from here)
→ joins the cephalic & basilic vein
DEEP
o Deep venous palmar arch
o Radial vein
o Ulnar vein
Muscle origins of distal humerus
Forearm flexor muscles origin = medial epicondyle
Forearm extensor muscles origin = lateral epicondyle
Once the subclavian artery passes under the clavicle it is in the armpit region & is referred to
as Axillary artery
Axillary artery is relatively short & runs approximately the length of scapula
As axillary artery exits the armpit area, it becomes the brachial artery
Most of brachial artery runs along anterior surface of arm, but there is a branch - deep
brachial artery - supplying muscles of arm
ARTERIES
Brachial artery → radial artery & ulnar artery(in cubital fossa) → superficial palmar arch & deep
plamar arch → metacarpal arteries → digital arteries
Deep brachial artery branches from brachial artery
Interosseous artery branches from ulnar artery
o Dividing into anterior & posterior interosseus
Radial artery
proximal half: runs below brachioradialis
Middle: runs with radial nerve
Distal: superficial- only covered by deep fascia, superficial fascia and skin
Radial artery branches
o Radial recurrent artery → elbow joint & muscles on lateral forearm
o Palmar carpal branch → carpal bones & joints
o Superficial palmar arch → superficial to thenar muscles of thumb, anastomoses with
superficial palmar arch of ulnar artery
Ulnar artery
Medial side of forearm
Leaves cubital fossa deep to pronator teres
Passes between flexor carpi ulnarisa & flexor digitorum profundus
Supplies medial three & one half digits
Branches:
o Ulnar recurrent → elbow joint
o Muscular arteries supplying muscles
, o Common interosseous artery → two carpal arteries supplying wrist
o Posterior interosseous artery → posterior forearm
o Anterior interosseous artery → anterior aspect of interosseous membrane
Supplies deep muscles of anterior forearm, radius and ulna
o In distal forearm → perforates interosseous membrane to join posterior
interosseous artery
VEINS
Superficial
o Superficial venous palmar arch
o Cephalic (lateral)
o Basilic (medial)
o Median cubital antebrachial vein
Median cubital vein → runs across the middle of anterior arm (mainly take blood from here)
→ joins the cephalic & basilic vein
DEEP
o Deep venous palmar arch
o Radial vein
o Ulnar vein
Muscle origins of distal humerus
Forearm flexor muscles origin = medial epicondyle
Forearm extensor muscles origin = lateral epicondyle
