1.

Subclavian Artery 10
11 2
2. Axillary Artery
4 5 3 1
3. Superior Thoracic Artery Teres
6
Major 12 7
4. Lateral Thoracic Artery
1st Rib
5. Thoracoacromial Artery 15 8
14
6. Pectoral Branch 13 9 Pectoralis
Minor
7. Clavicular Branch
8. Acromial Branch
9. Deltoid Branch
10.Anterior Circumflex Humeral Artery
11.Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery
12.Subscapular Artery
13.Thoracodorsal Artery
14.Circumflex Scapular Artery
15.Brachial Artery 16
16.Profunda Brachii (Deep Brachial) Artery
17.Radial Collateral Artery
18.Superior Ulnar Collateral Artery
19.Inferior Ulnar Collateral Artery
20.Posterior Ulnar Recurrent Artery 18
19
21.Anterior Ulnar Recurrent Artery 17
22.Radial Recurrent Artery
21 20
23.Middle Collateral Artery
23 28
24.Right Recurrent Interosseous Artery 29
25.Posterior Interosseous Artery
27
26.Anterior Interosseous Artery
27.Common Interosseous Artery 24

28.Radial Artery
29.Ulnar Artery 22
30.Deep Palmer Arch 25
31.Superficial Palmar Arch
32.Proper Palmer Digital Arteries (4) 26
33.Princeps Pollicis Artery
34.Radialis Indicis Artery

33 30

31
34 32 32 32 32
1. Subclavian Artery
-Origin
-Left artery branches from the arch of the aorta
-Right artery branches from the brachiocephalic artery
-Course
-From its origin, the subclavian artery travels laterally, passing between anterior and middle scalene
muscle, with the anterior scalene on its anterior side and the middle scalene on its posterior.
This is in contract to the subclavian vein, which travels anterior to the scalenus anterior. As the
subclavian artery crosses the border of the first rib, it become the axillary artery.

2. Axillary Artery
-Course
-Continuation of the subclavian artery. It begins at the outer border of the first rib and continues as
the brachial artery as it passes the lower margin of the teres major muscle. The axillary artery
is subdivided into three parts by its relation to the pectoralis minor muscle.
-3 Sections
-1st section
-Medial to the pectoralis minor
-Branches
-Superior or supreme thoracic artery
-2nd section
-Posterior to the pectoralis minor
-Branches
-Thoracoacromial artery
-Lateral thoracic artery
-3rd section
-Lateral to the pectoralis minor
-Branches
-Subscapular artery
-Anterior circumflex humeral artery
-Posterior humeral circumflex artery
-Memorization mnemonic
-In order from medial to lateral
-She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie
-Relation to Structures
-Accompanied by the axillary vein along its length
-In the axilla, it is surrounded by the brachial plexus. The second part of the axillary artery is the
reference for the locational descriptions of the cords. (For example, the posterior cord of the
brachial plexus is so named because it lies posterior to the second part of the axillary artery.

3. Superior Thoracic Artery

-Course
-Arises from the first division of the axillary artery. Running anteromedially along the upper border of
the pectoralis minor it passes between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major muscle to the
lateral aspect of the thoracic cage to supply the first and second intercostal spaces as well as
to the superior portion of serratus anterior. It then continues on to anastomose with the
internal mammary and intercostal arteries.
4. Lateral Thoracic Artery
-Course
-Arises from the second division of the axillary artery and follows the border of pectoralis minor to the
lateral aspect of the thoracic cage to supply both the serratus anterior and pectoralis major. In
addition it sends branches across the axilla to the axillary lymph nodes and subscapularis. It
anastomoses with the internal thoracic, subscapular and intercostal arteries, as well was with
the pectoral branch of the thoracoacromial artery.

5. Thoracoacromial Artery
-Course
-Projecting forward to the upper border of the pectoralis minor it pierces the coracoclavicular fascia
and divides into four branches.
-Branches
-Pectoral
-Acromial
-Clavicular
-Deltoid

6. Pectoral Branch of the Thoracoacromial Artery

-Course
-Arises from the thoracoacromial artery and descends between the two pectoral muscles, supplying
both them and the mammaries. It then continues on to anastomose with the intercostal
branches of the internal mammary artery and with the lateral thoracic artery.

7. Clavicular Branch of the Thoracoacromial Artery

-Course
-Arises from the thoracoacromial artery and runs superomedially to the sternoclavicular joint and the
subclavius.

8. Acromial Branch of the Thoracoacromial Artery

-Course
-Arises from the thoracoacromial artery and runs laterally over the coracoid process and under the
deltoid, to which it gives branches; it then pierced the deltoid and ends on the acromion in an
arterial network formed by branches from the suprascapular, thoracoacromial and posterior
humeral circumflex arteries.

9. Deltoid Branch of the Thoracoacromial Artery

-Course
-Arises from the thoracoacromial artery and runs laterally over the pectoralis minor and passes in the
same groove as the cephalic vein, giving branches to the muscles on either side of the groove
(pectoralis major and deltoid).
10. Anterior Circumflex Humeral Artery
-Course
-Arises nearly opposite its considerably larger twin (posterior circumflex humeral artery) form the lateral
side of the axillary artery. It then runs horizontally, beneath the coracobrachialis and the short
head of the biceps brachii in anterior to the neck of the humerus and the glenohumeral joint.
The trunk then continues onward beneath the long head of the biceps brachii and the deltoid
and anastomoses with the posterior circumflex humeral artery.

11. Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery

-Course
-Arises from the axillary artery at the lower border of the subscapularis, and runs posteriorly with the
axillary nerve through the quadrangular space. It widens around the neck of the humerus and
is distributed to the deltoid and the glenohumeral joint, anastomosing with the anterior
circumflex humeral and the profunda brachii arteries.

12. Subscapular Artery

-Course
-Arises from the axillary artery at the lower border of the subscapularis, which its follows to the inferior
angle of the scapula, where it anastomoses with the lateral thoracic and intercostal arteries
and with the descending branch of the transverse cervical artery and ends in the neighboring
muscles.
-Branches
-About 4 cm from its origin it gives off two branches, first the circumflex scapular artery and the the
thoracodorsal artery.

13. Thoracodorsal Artery

-Course
-Arises from the subscapular artery and travels inferiorly with the thoracodorsal nerve and supplies the
latissimus dorsi.
14. Circumflex Scapular Artery
-Course
-Arises from the subscapular artery and curves around the axillary border of the scapula traveling
through the triangular space. It enters the infraspinatous fossa under the teres major and
anastomoses with the suprascapular artery and the descending branch of the transverse
cervical artery.
-Branches
-Two main branches
-Infrascapular
-Enters the subscapular fossa beneath the subscapularis, which it supplies,
anastomosing with the suprascapular artery and the descending branch of the
dorsal scapular artery.
-2nd Branch
-Continues along the axillary border of the scapula, between the teres major and
minor, and at the dorsal surface of the inferior angle anastomosis with the
descending branch of the transverse cervical artery.
-In addition to the two branches above there a numerous small branches which are distributed to the
posterior portion of the deltoid and the long head of the triceps brachii, anastomosing with an
ascending branch of the profunda brachii.

15. Brachial Artery

-Course
-Arises as a continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of the teres major muscle. It
continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. It
then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries which run down the forearm.
-Branches
-Profunda brachii artery
-Superior ulnar collateral artery
-Inferior ulnar collateral artery
-Radial artery (terminal branch)
-Ulnar artery (terminal branch)
-Nutrient branches to the humerus
-Associations
-Closely related to the median nerve; in proximal regions, the median nerve is immediately lateral to the
brachial artery. Distally, the median nerve crosses the medial side of the brachial artery and
lies anterior tot he elbow joint.

16. Profunda Brachii (Deep Brachial) Artery

-Course
-Arises from the brachial artery, just below the lower border of teres major. After its origination it
closely follows the radial nerve, running (at first) posteriorly between the medial and lateral
heads of the triceps brachii, then along the radial sulcus, where it is covered by the lateral
head of the triceps brachii, to the lateral side of the arm. On the lateral potion of the arm is
pierces the lateral intramuscular septum, and, descending between the brachioradialis and the
brachialis to the front of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, ends by anastomosing with the
radial recurrent artery.
17. Radial Collateral Artery
-Course
-Arises from the profunda brachii muscle and anastomoses with the radial recurrent artery near the
elbow.

18. Superior Ulnar Collateral Artery

-Course
-Arises from the brachial artery a little below the middle of the arm. It pierces the medial intermuscular
septum, and descends on the surface of the medial head of the triceps brachii to the space
between the medial epicondyle and the olecranon, accompanied by the ulnar nerve, and ends
under the flexor carpi ulnaris by anastomosing with the posterior ulnar recurrent artery.

19. Inferior Ulnar Collateral Artery

-Course
-Arises from the brachial artery about 5 cm above the elbow and pierces the medial intermuscular
septum, then winds around the back of the humerus between the triceps brachii and the bone,
forming, via a junction with the profunda brachii, an arch above the olecranon fossa. At its
terminal end it anastomoses with the anterior ulnar recurrent artery.

20. Posterior Ulnar Recurrent Artery

-Course
-Arises as a continuation of the superior ulnar collateral artery. It passes anteromedially on the flexor
digitorum profundus and ascends behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus. In the interval
between the epicondyle and the olecranon, it lies beneath the flexor carpi ulnaris, and
ascending between the heads of that muscle, in relation to the ulnar nerve, it supplies the
neighboring muscles and the elbow joint before it anastomoses with the radial and common
interosseous arteries.

21. Anterior Ulnar Recurrent Artery

-Course
-Arises immediately below the elbow joint, runs upward between the brachialis and pronator teres,
supplies branches to those muscle, and, in front of the medial epicondyle, anastomoses with
the inferior ulnar recurrent artery.

22. Radial Recurrent Artery

-Course
-Arises from the radial artery immediately below the elbow. It ascends between the branches of the
radial nerve, lying on the supinator and then between the brachioradialis and brachialis,
supplying these muscles and the elbow joint and anastomosing with terminal end of the radial
collateral artery.

23. Middle Collateral Artery

-Course
-Arises from the radial collateral artery and descends to anastomose with the right recurrent
interosseous artery.
24. Right Recurrent Interosseous Artery
-Course
-Arises from the common interosseous artery. It ascends to the interval between the lateral epicondyle
and olecranon, on or through the fibers of the supinator but beneath the anconeus to
anastomose with the middle collateral artery.

25. Posterior Interosseous Artery

-Course
-Arises from the right recurrent interosseous artery to pass backward between the oblique cord and
the upper border of the interosseous membrane. It appears between the contiguous borders
of the supinator and the abductor pollicis longus, and runs down the back of the forearm
between the superficial and deep layers of muscles, to both of which it distributes branches.
Where it lies upon the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis, it is
accompanied by the dorsal interosseous nerve. At the lower part of the forearm it
anastomoses with the dorsal carpal network.

26. Anterior Interosseous Artery

-Course
-Arises form the right recurrent interosseous artery to pass backward between the oblique cord and
the upper border of the interosseous membrane. It passes down the forearm on the palmar
surface of the interosseous membrane. It is accompanied by the palmar interosseous branch
of the median nerve, and overlapped by the contiguous margins of the flexor digitorum
profundus and flexor pollicis longus, giving off muscular branches, and the nutrient arteries of
the radius and ulna. At the upper border of the pronator quadratus it pierces the interosseous
membrane and reaches the back of the forearm, where it anastomoses with the dorsal
interosseous artery. It then descend, in company with the terminal portion of the dorsal
interosseous nerve, to the back of the wrist to join the dorsal carpal network.

27. Common Interosseous Artery

-Course
-Arises immediately below the tuberosity of the radius form the ulnar artery. Passing backward to the
upper border of the interosseous membrane, it divides into two branches, the anterior
interosseous and posterior interosseous artery. The branches
28. Radial Artery
-Course
-Arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior
part of the forearm. There, it serves as a landmark for the division between the anterior and
posterior compartments of the forearm, with the posterior compartment beginning just lateral
to the artery. The artery winds laterally around the wrist, passing through the anatomical snuff
box and between the heads of the adductor pollicis, and becomes the deep palmar arch,
which joins with the deep branch of the ulnar artery. Along its course, it is accompanied by the
radial vein.
-Branches
-Forearm
-Radial recurrent artery
-Palmar carpal branch of the radial artery
-Superficial palmar branch of the radial artery
-At the wrist
-Dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery
-First dorsal metacarpal artery
-In the hand
-Princeps pollicis artery
-Radialis indicis
-Deep palmar arch
-Clinical significance
-The artery’s pulse is palpable in the anatomical snuff box and on the anterior aspect of the arm over
the carpal bones (where it is commonly used to assess the heart rate and cardiac rhythm).

29. Ulnar Artery

-Course
-Arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa and, passing obliquely downward,
reaches the ulnar side of the forearm at a point about midway between the elbow and the
wrist. It then runs along the ulnar border to the wrist, crosses the transverse carpal ligament
on the radial side of the pisiform bone, and immediately beyond this bone divides into two
branches, which enter into the formation of the superficial and deep palmar arches.
-Branches
-Anterior ulnar recurrent artery
-Posterior ulnar recurrent artery
-Common interosseous artery
-Muscular artery
-Palmar carpal artery
-Dorsal carpal artery
-Dorsal palmar artery
-Superficial palmar arch
30. Deep Palmar Arch
-Course
-Arises from terminal end of the radial artery, with the ulnar artery contributing via its deep palmar arch.
It lies upon the bases of the metacarpal bones and on the interossei of the hand, being
covered by the oblique head of the adductor pollicis muscle, the flexor tendons of the fingers
and the lumbricals of the hand. Alongside, but running in the opposite direction (toward the
radial side of the hand) is the deep branch of the ulnar nerve.

31. Superficial Palmar Arch

-Course
-Arises predominantly by the ulnar artery, with a contribution from the radial artery. The arch passes
across the palm in a curve with its convexity downward. If one were to fully extend the thumb,
the superficial palmar arch would lie approximately at the level of a line drawn from the distal
border of the thumb across the palm. Four proper palmar digital arteries arise from the arch.
They each receive a contribution from a palmar metacarpal artery.

32. Proper Palmar Digital Arteries

-Course
-Arise from the common palmar digital arteries to travel along the sides of the phalanges, each lying
just below its corresponding digital nerve. They anastomose freely in the subcutaneous tissue
on the finger tips and by smaller branches near the interphalangeal joints.

33. Princeps Pollicis Artery

-Course
-Arises from the radial artery just as it turns medially towards the deep part of the hand; it descends
between the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the oblique head of the adductor pollicis,
along the medial side of the first metacarpal bone to the base of the proximal phalanx, where it
lies beneath the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus muscle and divides into two branches.
These branches make their appearance between the medial and lateral insertions of the
adductor pollicis, and run along the sides of the thumb, forming an arch on the palmar surface
of the distal phalanx, from which branches are distributed to the integument and subcutaneous
tissue of the thumb.

34. Radialis Indicis Artery

-Course
-Arises from the radial artery and runs next to the princeps pollicis artery and provides blood to the
index finger. It descends between the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the transverse
head of the adductor pollicis, and runs along the lateral side of the index finger to its extremity,
where it anastomoses with the proper digital artery, supplying the medial side of the finger.
This may also arise from a common branch with the princeps pollicis artery.
1. Cephalic Vein
2. Basilic Vein
3. Median Cubital Vein
4. Median Cephalic Vein
5. Median Basilic Vein 1
6. Median Antebrachial Vein
7. Dorsal Venous Network
2
8. Palmar Digital Veins
9. Intercapitular Vein

4
5

6
1
2

9
7

8 8 8 8 8
1. Cephalic Vein
-Course
-Arises from the intercapitular vein and travels up the anterolateral side of the arm. Superiorly the
cephalic vein passes between the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles and through the
deltopectoral triangle, where it empties into the axillary vein. It also communicated with the
basilic vein via the media cubital vein at the elbow.

2. Basilic Vein
-Course
-Arises on the medial side of the dorsal venous network of the hand and travels up the medial side of
the forearm and arm. Most of its course is superficial as it generally travels in the
subcutaneous fat. Near the region anterior to the cubital fossa, in the bend of the elbow joint,
the basilic vein usually connects with the other large superficial vein of the upper extremity, the
cephalic vein. About halfway up the arm the basilic vein goes deep, traveling under the
muscles. There, around the lower border of the teres major muscle, the anterior and posterior
circumflex humeral veins feed into it, just before it joins the brachial veins to form the axillary
vein.

3. Median Cubital Vein

-Course
-A superficial vein of the upper limb. It connects the basilic and cephalic vein and lies in the cubital
fossa superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis.

4. Median Cephalic Vein

-Course
-Communicating vein between the cephalic vein and the median antebrachial vein.

5. Median Basilic Vein

-Course
-Communicating vein between the basilic vein and the median antebrachial vein.

6. Median Antebrachial Vein

-Drains the venous plexus on the palmar surface of the hand.
-Course
-It ascends on the ulnar side of the front of the forearm and ends in the basilic vein or in some cases a
branch to both the basilic vein and the cephalic vein just below the elbow.

7. Dorsal Venous Network

-A network of veins formed by the dorsal metacarpal veins. It is found on the dorsal aspect of the hand and
gives rise to veins such as the cephalic vein and the basilic vein.

8. Palmar Digital Veins

-Vein located on each finger connected to the dorsal digital veins by oblique intercapitular veins.

9. Intercapitular Vein
-Veins which connect the palmar digital veins on each finger to the dorsal digital veins. They drain into a
venous plexus which is situated over the thenar and hypothenar eminences and across the front of the
wrist.