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Bilateral superficial median arteries
Author(s) -
NAKATANI TOSHIO,
IZUMI ATSUSHI,
TANAKA SHIGENORI
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19430475.x
Subject(s) - ulnar artery , forearm , medicine , brachial artery , axillary artery , median nerve , wrist , anatomy , retinaculum , artery , radial artery , palm , ulnar nerve , upper limb , surgery , elbow , radiology , blood pressure , physics , quantum mechanics
A superficial artery may be present in the forearm, arising from the axillary, brachial or superficial brachial arteries and crossing over the origin of the flexor muscles of the forearm to reach the palm (Adachi, 1928; Bergman et al. 1988). When this superficial artery continues as the normal ulnar artery accompanying the ulnar nerve at the wrist, it is referred to as the superficial ulnar artery, with an incidence of ∼4%. When the artery passes below or superficial to the flexor retinaculum in the middle of the forearm, sometimes continuing to join the superficial palmar arch, it is called the superficial median artery, with an incidence of ∼1%. We have observed a relatively rare variation involving the presence of a superficial median artery in both upper limbs. We discuss the clinical importance and the developmental aspects of this arterial variation.