Xii: Anatomy of the Brachial Artery
Origin
- Continuation of axillary artery distal to inferior border of teres major
Termination
- Bifurcates to form radial artery and ulnar artery in cubital fossa at level of radial neck, below bicipital aponeurosis
Course
- Medial to humerus (accompanied by basilic vein and median nerve)
- Distally courses more anteriorly to lie between epicondyles of humerus
- At cubital fossa, bicipital aponeurosis covers the artery and separates it from median cubital vein
Relationships
Anterior
- Skin
Posterior
- Attachments of coracobrachialis and brachialis muscles
- Medial head of triceps brachii muscle
- Radial nerve
Lateral (proximal)
- Median nerve
- Coracobrachialis muscle
Medial (proximal)
- Ulnar nerve
- Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
Medial (distal)
- Basilic vein
- Median nerve
Tributaries
- Profunda brachii
- Superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries
- Deltoid artery
- Radial artery
- Ulnar artery
Supplies
- Muscles of upper arm: biceps brachii, triceps brachii, coracobrachialis muscles
- Forearm and hand by continuation as radial & ulnar arteries
Surface Anatomy
- Medial to biceps brachii tendon
Anatomical Variants
- High bifurcation at axillary level into a main trunk & a common stem (superficial brachial artery courses anterior to median nerve)
- Accessory brachial artery (duplication that unites before cubital fossa)
- Superficial radial artery
- Superficial ulnar artery in upper arm (descends superficially to common origin of forearm flexors, immediately beneath median cubital vein → risk of accidental puncture when cannulating antecubital vein)
Author: Novia Tan