REVIEW OF BLOOD SUPPLY OF HAND( Series 01) – Anatomy

REVIEW OF BLOOD SUPPLY OF HAND( Series  01) – Anatomy

BASIC REVIEW

Main Arteries Involved:

1.       Subclavian Artery

2.       Axillary Artery

3.       Brachial Artery

4.       Radial Artery

5.       Ulnar Artery

SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY:

Left Subclavian artery arises from Aorta

Right Subclavian artery arises from brachiocephalic truck

When the subclavian arteries cross the lateral edge of the 1st rib, they enter the axilla, and are called axillary arteries.

AXILLARY ARTERY

It passes through the axilla just under the pectoralis minor muscle enclosed within the axillary sheath.

At the level of the humeral surgical neck, the posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries arise.

The subscapular artery, the largest branch of the axillary artery, arises at the lower border of the Subscapularis muscle.

The axillary artery becomes the brachial artery at the level of the teres major muscle.

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 supplies structures in the posterior aspect of the arm).

The brachial artery descends down the arm immediately posterior to the median nerve.

When it crosses the cubital fossa, underneath the brachialis muscle, the brachial artery terminates by bifurcating into the radial and ulnar nerves.

RADIAL and 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.

(Blood supply of the hand will be explained in the next review session. This series will also include detailed review of each of the arteries with clinical significance. For now just remember the structure of the upper limb blood supply )