Arteries of the Upper Limb

Question 1

Where does the arterial supply to the upper limb begin?

Answer 1

In the chest, as the subclavian artery

Question 2

Where does the right subclavian artery arise from?

Answer 2

The brachiocephalic trunk

Question 3

Where does the left subclavian artery arise from?

Answer 3

Branches directly off the arch of the aorta

Question 4

When do the subclavian arteries enter the axilla?

Answer 4

When they cross the lateral edge of the 1st rib

Question 5

What are the subclavian arteries called when they enter the axilla?

Answer 5

The axillary arteries

Question 6

Where does the axillary artery pass?

Answer 6

Through the axilla, just underneath the pectoralis minor muscle

Question 7

What is the axillary artery enclosed in?

Answer 7

The axillary sheath

Question 8

What arises from the axillary arteries?

Answer 8

The posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries

Subscapular artery

Question 9

Where do the posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries, and the subscapular artery arise?

Answer 9

At the level of the humeral surgical neck

Question 10

What do the posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries do?

Answer 10

Circle posteriorly around the humerus to supply the shoulder region

Question 11

What does the axillary artery become?

Answer 11

The brachial artery

Question 12

Where does the axillary artery become the brachial artery?

Answer 12

At the level of the teres major muscle

Question 13

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 13

A dilation of a blood vessel to more than twice its original size

Question 14

How common are axillary artery aneurysm?

Answer 14

Rare

Question 15

What can axillary artery aneurysms occur as a result of?

Answer 15

Atherosclerosis
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Trauma

Question 16

What can happen with axillary artery aneurysms?

Answer 16

The dilated portion of the axillary artery can compress the brachial plexus

Question 17

What is the result of the compression of the brachial plexus by an aneurysm?

Answer 17

Produces neurological symptoms such as paresthesia and muscle weakness

Question 18

What is the definitive treatment for an axillary artery aneurysm?

Answer 18

Surgical- involves removing the aneurysm and reconstructing the vessel wall using a graft

Question 19

When does the axillary artery become the brachial artery?

Answer 19

When it reaches the lower border of the teres major

Question 20

Why is the brachial artery important?

Answer 20

It is the main source of blood for the arm

Question 21

What does the brachial artery give rise to?

Answer 21

The profunda brachii

Question 22

Where does the brachial artery give rise to the profunda brachii?

Answer 22

Immediately distal to the teres major

Question 23

What is the profunda brachii?

Answer 23

The deep artery of the arm

Question 24

Where does the profunda brachii travel?

Answer 24

Along the posterior surface of the humerus, running in the radial groove

Question 25

What does the profunda brachii supply?

Answer 25

Structures in the posterior aspect of the arm

Question 26

How does the profunda brachii terminate?

Answer 26

By contributing to a network of vessels

Question 27

Where does the brachial artery descend down the arm?

Answer 27

Immediately posterior to the median nerve

Question 28

Where does the brachial artery terminate?

Answer 28

As it crosses the cubital fossa, underneath the brachialis muscle

Question 29

How does the brachial artery terminate?

Answer 29

By bifurcating into the radial and ulnar arteries

Question 30

What protects the arm from temporary or partial occlusion of the brachial artery?

Answer 30

The arm has a relatively god anastomotic supply

Question 31

What happens if the artery is completely blocked, or severed?

Answer 31

It is a medical emergency

Question 32

Why is blockage or severance of the brachial artery a medical emergency?

Answer 32

The resulting ischaemia of the forearm can cause necrosis and paralysis of the muscles in the forearm

Question 33

What happens when there is necrosis and paralysis of forearm muscles?

Answer 33

The affected muscles are replaced to some degree by scar tissue, and shorten considerably, causing a characteristic flexion deformity called Volkmann’s contracture

Question 34

What does the radial artery supply?

Answer 34

The posterior aspect of the forearm

Question 35

Where does the ulnar artery supply?

Answer 35

The anterior aspect of the forearm

Question 36

What happens to the radial and ulnar arteries?

Answer 36

They anastomose in the hand, by forming two arches, the superficial palmar arch and the deep palmar arch

Question 37

Why does the hand have a very good blood supply?

Answer 37

Because it has many anastomosing arteries

Question 38

What does the good blood supply of the hand allow?

Answer 38

For the hand to be perfused when grasping, or applying pressure

Question 39

What is true of a good majority of the arteries in the hand?

Answer 39

They are superficial

Question 40

What does a lot of the arteries in the hand being superficial allow for?

Answer 40

Heat loss when needed

Question 41

What happens to the ulnar and radial arteries in the hand?

Answer 41

They interconnect to form two arches, from which branches to the digits emerge

Question 42

What does the radial artery supply in the hand?

Answer 42

Contributes mainly to supply of the thumb and the lateral side of the index finger

Question 43

What does the ulnar artery supply in the hand/

Answer 43

Contributes mainly to the supply of the rest of the digits (not the thumb) and the medial side of the index finger

Question 44

How does the ulnar artery move into the hand?

Answer 44

Anteriorly to the flexor retinaculum, and laterally to the ulnar nerve

Question 45

What happens to the ulnar artery in the hand?

Answer 45

It divides into two branches, the superficial palmar arch, and the deep palmar branch

Question 46

What arises form the superficial palmar arch?

Answer 46

The common palmar digital arteries

Question 47

What do the common palmar digital arteries supply?

Answer 47

The digits

Question 48

What does the superficial palmar arch anastomose with?

Answer 48

A branch of the radial artery

Question 49

Where is the superficial palmar arch found?

Answer 49

Anteriorly to the flexor tendons in the hand, but just deep to the palmar aponeurosis

Question 50

How does the radial artery enter the hand?

Answer 50

Dorsally, crossing the floor of the anatomical snuffbox

Question 51

What happens to the radial artery once in the hand?

Answer 51

It turns medially and moves between the heads of the adductor pollicis

Question 52

What forms the deep palmar arch?

Answer 52

The radial artery anastomosing with the deep palmar branch of the ulnar artery

Question 53

What does the deep palmar arch give rise to?

Answer 53

Five arteries supplying the digits