Radial artery

Radial artery and its branchesAnatomical features of the radial artery and its branches together with blood supply areas and anastomoses
~ 3 min

The arteries of the upper limb supply the bones and soft tissues of the pectoral girdle, the lateral part of the thoracic wall, as well as all organs and tissues of the free part of the upper limb with blood.

In this video, we will consider the anatomy of the radial artery (arteria radialis) and its branches, as well as the area of blood supply.

Radial artery (arteria radialis)
Radial artery (arteria radialis)

The radial artery (arteria radialis) arises slightly distal to the gap of the shoulder joint and is a continuation of the brachial artery (a. brachialis).

Brachial artery (a. brachialis)
Brachial artery (a. brachialis)

It is located on the forearm between the circular pronator medially and the brachioradialis muscle, and in the lower third of the forearm it is covered only with fascia and skin, so it is easy to feel its pulsation here.

Radial artery (arteria radialis)
Radial artery (arteria radialis)

In the distal part of the forearm, the radial artery, having circumflexed the styloid process of the radius, passes to the dorsum of the hand under the tendons of the long muscles of the thumb (flexor, abductor, and extensor) and through the first interosseous gap goes to the palmar side of the hand.

Radial artery (arteria radialis)
Radial artery (arteria radialis)

The terminal part of the radial artery anastomoses with the deep palmar branch of the ulnar artery, forming a deep palmar arch (arcus palmaris profundus).

Deep palmar arch (arcus palmaris profundus)
Deep palmar arch (arcus palmaris profundus)

It has a number of branches along its length.

Muscular branches (rami musculares): these small branches supply blood to the muscles of the radial surface of the forearm, in particular the extensor muscles of the posterior forearm.

The radial recurrent artery (arteria recurrens radialis) arises from the initial part of the radial artery, goes laterally and superiorly, and passes in the anterior lateral bicipital groove.

Radial recurrent artery (arteria recurrens radialis)
Radial recurrent artery (arteria recurrens radialis)
Radial recurrent artery (arteria recurrens radialis)
Radial recurrent artery (arteria recurrens radialis)

Here it anastomoses with the radial collateral artery (arising from the deep brachial artery).

It supplies the elbow joint with blood.

The palmar carpal branch (ramus carpalis palmaris) arises from the radial artery at the distal edge of the pronator quadratus and runs along the anterior surface of the wrist bones.

Palmar carpal branch (ramus carpalis palmaris)
Palmar carpal branch (ramus carpalis palmaris)

It anastomoses with the palmar carpal branch of the ulnar artery and the anterior interosseous artery. It participates in the formation of the palmar plexus of the wrist.

The superficial palmar branch (ramus palmaris superficialis).

Superficial palmar branch (ramus palmaris superficialis)
Superficial palmar branch (ramus palmaris superficialis)

It goes to the palm in the thickness of the muscles of thenar eminence or inside of the flexor pollicis brevis and participates in the formation of the superficial palmar arch (arcus palmaris superficialis).

Superficial palmar arch (arcus palmaris superficialis)
Superficial palmar arch (arcus palmaris superficialis)

The deep palmar branch (ramus palmaris profundus) is a direct continuation of the radial artery.

Deep palmar branch (ramus palmaris profundus)
Deep palmar branch (ramus palmaris profundus)

It forms a deep palmar arch (arcus palmaris profundus) of the hand.

Deep palmar arch (arcus palmaris profundus)
Deep palmar arch (arcus palmaris profundus)

The medial part of the deep palmar arch ends with the deep palmar branch of the ulnar artery. The deep palmar arch passes through the palm between the bases of the metacarpals and the tendons of the flexor digitorum longus muscles.

The princeps pollicis artery (arteria princeps pollicis) divides into two palmar digital arteries passing bilaterally to the thumb.

Princeps pollicis artery (arteria princeps pollicis)
Princeps pollicis artery (arteria princeps pollicis)

The radialis indicis artery (arteria radialis indicis) goes to the finger of the same name.

Radialis indicis artery (arteria radialis indicis)
Radialis indicis artery (arteria radialis indicis)

The dorsal carpal branch (ramus carpalis dorsalis) arises from the radial artery on the dorsum of the hand and goes in the medial direction.

Dorsal carpal branch (ramus carpalis dorsalis)
Dorsal carpal branch (ramus carpalis dorsalis)

It anastomoses with the branch of the ulnar artery of the same name, forming the dorsal carpal arch (rete carpale dorsale) together with the branches of the interosseous arteries.

Dorsal carpal arch (rete carpale dorsale)
Dorsal carpal arch (rete carpale dorsale)

Three or four dorsal metacarpal arteries (arteriae metacarpales dorsales) arise from the latter.

Dorsal metacarpal arteries (arteriae metacarpales dorsales)
Dorsal metacarpal arteries (arteriae metacarpales dorsales)

From each of these arteries, in turn, two dorsal digital arteries (arteriae digitales dorsales) arise, which supply the dorsum of the fingers two to five with blood.

Dorsal digital arteries (arteriae digitales dorsales)
Dorsal digital arteries (arteriae digitales dorsales)

The first dorsal metacarpal artery (arteria metacarpalis dorsalis prima) arises from the radial artery at the dorsum of the hand. It gives off branches to the radial side of the first finger and to the adjacent sides of the first and second fingers.

First dorsal metacarpal artery (arteria metacarpalis dorsalis prima)
First dorsal metacarpal artery (arteria metacarpalis dorsalis prima)
Dictionary

Radial artery and its branches

Brachial artery
a. brachialis
Radial artery
a. radialis
Deep palmar arch
arcus palmaris profundus
Muscular branches
rr. musculares
Radial recurrent artery
a. recurrens radialis
Palmar carpal branch
r. carpalis palmaris
Superficial palmar branch
r. palmaris superficialis
Deep palmar branch
r. palmaris profundus
Princeps pollicis artery
a. princeps pollicis
Radialis indicis artery
a. radialis indicis
Dorsal carpal branch
r. carpalis dorsalis
Dorsal carpal arch
rete carpale dorsale
Dorsal metacarpal arteries
aa. metacarpales dorsales
Dorsal digital arteries
aa. digitales dorsales
First dorsal metacarpal artery
a. metacarpalis dorsalis prima
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