Arteries on the Dorsal Side of the Hand

38 Arteries on the Dorsal Side of the Hand

B. Meyer, L. Sonnow

38.1 Dorsal Arterial Net of the Hand

The net of arteries on the dorsal side of the hand is not as important as the palmar arches and hard to visualize by angiography. The dorsal side of the fingers is supplied by the perforating branches from the palmar arteries (for the proximal parts of the fingers) and by branches of the proper palmar digital arteries for the middle and distal segments of the fingers. The arteries of the fingers follow a course similar to that of the nerves. In most cases, the posterior and anterior interosseous arteries take part in the blood supply of the dorsal side of the hand. The anterior interosseous artery sends a branch through the interosseous membrane to the dorsal side, where it unites with the posterior interosseous artery.¹^–⁵

Fig. 38.1 Radiointerosseous type (50%). Schematic.

Fig. 38.2 Radiointerosseoulnar type (30%). Schematic (a), lateral DSA (b), and frontal DSA (c). 1 Dorsal net of arteries; 2 ulnar supply; 3 interosseous supply; 4 dorsal net of arteries; 5 radial supply.