Hand Vessels
GROSS ANATOMY
Arteries
- • Radial artery
Terminal branch of brachial artery
Located superficial to PQ, then continues dorsally around radial styloid process, then passes deep to APL and EPB, across anatomic snuffbox and deep to EPL
Branches of radial artery
Deep palmar arch is continuation of radial artery in hand
- – Main radial artery continues dorsally at radial styloid across anatomic snuffbox deep to EPB and APL
- – Passes over dorsal aspect of scaphoid bone
- – Passes between heads of 1st dorsal interosseus muscle to enter palm; joins ulnar artery to form deep palmar arch
- – Deep palmar arch is located at level of metacarpal bases 1 cm proximal to superficial palmar arch
- – Lies deep to long flexor tendons and superficial to interossei
- – Deep branch of ulnar nerve lies on convexity of deep palmar arch
- – Princeps pollicis artery, radial artery of index finger, and palmar metacarpal arteries arise from deep palmar arch
- • Ulnar artery
Terminal branch of brachial artery
Located superficial to PQ, then runs between flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum superficialis tendons
Branches of ulnar artery
Common interosseus artery branches in forearm divide into anterior and posterior interosseus arteries
- – Anterior interosseus artery travels distally; at proximal PQ, gives small branch that pierces membrane, enters dorsal forearm, and anastomoses with posterior interosseus artery
- – Median artery (branch of anterior interosseus artery) arises in forearm and may persist accompanying median nerve into carpal tunnel, contributing to superficial palmar arch
- – Posterior interosseus artery travels distally between deep and superficial extensors to anastomose with anterior interosseus artery
Superficial palmar arch is continuation of ulnar artery in hand
- – Located along line extended in arch across palm from thumb web space
- – Similar to metacarpal shaft level ~ 1 cm distal to deep palmar arch
- – Located deep to palmar aponeurosis but superficial to long flexor tendons and digital nerves
- – Common palmar digital arteries arise from superficial palmar arch
- – Run distally on surface of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbrical muscles
- – Near metacarpophalangeal joints, each common palmar digital artery divides into 2 proper digital arteries
- – Run in subcutaneous fat of digits (lateral aspects)
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