Locomotor brachialis: a clinical peep into atherosclerosis and hypertension mediated organ damage in the elderly

Over the years, clinical practice has been transformed by the advent of sophisticated diagnostic tools. Although their benefits are obvious, they have resulted in neglect of valuable bedside physical signs which adorned clinical practice over centuries. A single pathognomonic physical sign could often lead to a diagnosis without the need of expensive investigations. Locomotor brachialis (LB) is one such neglected physical sign often observed in the elderly. It refers to a dilated, thickened, tortuous and pulsatile brachial artery, usually associated with atherosclerosis and sustained hypertension. It is easily visible while recording the blood pressure due to the superficial location of the brachial artery and the atrophy of adjacent muscle and soft tissue mass with advancing age.