Xii: Anatomy of the radial artery
Origin
- Originates at cubital fossa as one of two terminal branch of brachial artery
Termination
- Anastomoses with ulnar artery → Forms deep palmar arch of hand
Course
- Runs along radial aspect of anterior compartment of forearm under brachioradialis, lateral to flexor carpi radialis tendon
- Distally, radial artery lies on surface of radius
- Proceeds along floor of anatomical snuffbox, passing dorsally around scaphoid and trapezium
Relationships at wrist level
- Medial: Flexor carpi radialis tendon, palmaris longus tendon, median nerve
- Lateral: Brachioradialis tendon
Tributaries
- Radial recurrent artery
- Palmar carpal branch
- Dorsal carpal branch
- Muscular branches
- Superficial palmar branch
Hand
- Princeps pollicis artery
- Radialis indicis artery
Supplies
- Elbow joint
- Lateral forearm muscles
- Radial nerve
- Carpal bones and joints
- Thumb
- Lateral side of index finger
Surface Anatomy
- Near styloid process → artery at its most superficial point
Anatomical Variants
- High origin off brachial/axillary artery
- Transposition of radial/ulnar arteries (radial artery from medial & ulnar artery from lateral side of brachial artery)
- Tortuous radial artery
- Superficial radial artery that crosses over tendons defining anatomic snuffbox of wrist
- Stenosis
- Duplication of artery
- Hypoplastic/Complete absence of artery
Author: Novia Tan