22/03/2010

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

ARTERIES
The subclavian artery becomes the axillary
artery after crossing the 1st rib

ARTERIES & VEINS

of the upper limb

The axillary artery becomes the brachial artery

after crossing the posterior axillary fold
The brachial artery divides just distal to the
elbow into the radial and ulnar arteries.

Marc REVOL, 2010

The ulnar artery gives rise to the common

interosseous artery, which divides into anterior
and posterior interosseous arteries.
The hand is supplied on the palmar aspect by
variable anastomoses between branches of the
radial and ulnar arteries.

www.anato.info

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Begins at the distal border of the tendon of teres major

Ends about 1 cm distal to the elbow joint by dividing into radial and ulnar
arteries.

Branches :
o Profunda brachii artery
o Nutrient artery of humerus
o Superior ulnar collateral artery
o Middle ulnar collateral artery (if present)
o Inferior ulnar collateral artery
o Muscular branches

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

www.anato.info

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Brachial artery

www.anato.info

www.anato.info

1. Profunda brachii artery

2. Radial collateral artery
3. Middle collateral branch of profunda brachii
artery
4. Superior ulnar collateral artery
5. Inferior ulnar collateral artery
6. Anterior ulnar recurrent artery
7. Posterior ulnar recurrent artery
8. Radial artery
9. Ulnar artery
10. Radial recurrent artery
11. Ulnar recurrent artery
12. Common interosseous artery
13. Interosseous recurrent artery (& posterior
interosseous artery)
14. Anterior interosseous artery

www.anato.info

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

www.anato.info

22/03/2010

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Radial artery
1. brachial artery
2. Radial artery
3. Radial recurrent artery
4. Ulnar artery
5. Common interosseous artery
6. Ulnar artery
7. Ulnar recurrent artery
8. Interosseous recurrent artery
9. Posterior interosseous artery
10. Anterior interosseous artery

www.anato.info

Begins from the brachial artery near the neck of the radius

passes deep to brachioradialis

At the wrist it passes in the anatomical snuff box

Ends in the hand by anastomosis with the deep branch of the ulnar artery,
completing the deep palmar arch

Branches :
o Radial recurrent artery (anastomoses with the radial collateral
branch of the profunda brachii)
o Muscular branches
o Cutaneous branches

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

www.anato.info

www.anato.info

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

www.anato.info

10

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Ulnar artery

Begins from the brachial artery near the neck of the radius

passes deep to pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus and
flexor digitorum superficialis

The ulnar head of pronator teres separates it from the median nerve

At the wrist it passes in the anatomical snuff box

Ends in the hand by anastomosis with the superficial palmar branch of the
radial artery, completing the superficial palmar arch.

Branches :
o Anterior ulnar recurrent artery
o Posterior ulnar recurrent artery
o Common interosseous artery, which divides into anterior
interosseous artery and posterior interosseous artery (which gives
rise to the posterior interosseous recurrent artery) .
o Muscular branches
o Cutaneous branches along the septum between flexor carpi ulnaris
and flexor digitorum superficialis.
www.anato.info

11

www.anato.info

12

22/03/2010

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Anterior interosseous artery

Begins at the proximal border of the interosseous membrane

Descends on the anterior aspect of the interosseous membrane with the
anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve, between the contiguous
sides of flexor digitorum profundus and flexor pollicis longus.

Pierces the interosseous membrane proximal to pronator quadratus

Distally it anastomoses with the posterior interosseous artery and the
dorsal carpal arch.

Branches :
o Median artery
o Muscular branches for FDP, FPL, pronator quadratus, and deep
extensor muscles
o Small cutaneous branches for the lower lateral border of the
forearm
www.anato.info

13

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

www.anato.info

14

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Posterior interosseous artery

Begins at the proximal border of the interosseous membrane

Passes dorsally between supinator and abductor pollicis longus

Descends deep in the groove between extensor carpi ulnaris and extensor
digiti minimi

Distally it anastomoses with the terminal part of the anterior interosseous
artery and the dorsal carpal arch.

Branches :
o Multiple muscular branches
o Fascio-cutaneous branches in the intermuscular septum

www.anato.info

15

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

www.anato.info

16

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

VEINS
The venous drainage of the upper limb is composed of
superficial and deep vessels.
The deep veins accompany the arteries. They are
connected to the superficial system by perforating
veins.
The superficial veins starts on the back of the hand as a
dorsal arch.
The cephalic vein begins at the radial extremity of
the arch. It ascends along the lateral aspect of the
arm, then it pierces the deep fascia to enter the
axillary vein just distal to the clavicle.
The basilic vein passes along the medial aspect of
the forearm, pierces the deep fascia at the elbow
and joins the venae comitantes of the brachial
artery
The median cubital vein links the cephalic and
basilic veins in front of the elbow.
www.anato.info

17

www.anato.info

18

22/03/2010

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

References
Doyle JR, Botte MJ. Surgical anatomy of the hand & upper extremity.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2003 (721 p)
Grants atlas of anatomy
Williams and Wilkins. Baltimore, 9th edition, 1991 (650 p)
Grays anatomy. The anatomical basis of clinical practice.
Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 39th edition, 2005 (1627 p)
Manuel de chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthtique
Sauramps Mdical, 2me dition, 2009 (874 p)
Netter FH. Atlas danatomie humaine.
Icon learning system, 1997, 2me dition (525 pages)
Schmidt HM, Lanz U. Surgical anatomy of the hand.
Thieme. Stuttgart, 2004 (258 p)
www.anato.info

19

www.anato.info