The vessels and nerves of the upper limb

Question 1

What is the arterial plan of the upper limb?

Answer 1

Heart
Ascending Aorta + Aoritc arch
Brachiocephalic- R common carotid & R Subclavian (branch off)
Left common carotid
Left sublavian
Thoracic + Abdominal aorta- branches into R comon iliac and L common iliac

Question 2

What is the brachiocephalic?

Answer 2

First branch off the aorta- divides to form the right subclavian and the right common carotid artery

Question 3

What is the right subclavian artery?

Answer 3

Extends from brachiocephalic artery to inferior border of first rib; gives rise to a number of branches at the base of the neck

Question 4

What is the internal thoracic (mammary) artery?

Answer 4

Arises from the first part of subclavian artery and descends posterior to costal cartilages of superior six ribs just lateral to sternum; terminates at the sixth intercostal space by bifurcating and sends branches into intercostal spaces

Question 5

What does bifurcating mean?

Answer 5

Branching into two arteries

Question 6

What is the vertebral artery?

Answer 6

Major branch of right subclavian artery to brain before it passes into the axilla; ascend through neck; passes through transverse foramina of cervical vertebrae, and enters skull via foramen magnum to reach inferior surface of brain

Question 7

What does the vertebral artery and left vertebral artery unite to form?

Answer 7

Basilar artery- passes along midline and anterior aspect of brain stem and gives off several branches (posterior cerebral and cerebellar arteries)

Question 8

What is the axillary artery?

Answer 8

Continuation of right subclavian artery into the axilla; begins where subclavian artery passes inferior border of first rib and ends as it crosses distal margins of teres muscles; gives rise to numerous branches in axilla

Question 9

Which artery is blood pressure usually measured by?

Answer 9

Brachial artery

Question 10

What is the brachial artery

Answer 10

Continuation of axillary artery

Question 11

Where does brachial artery begin

Answer 11

Distal border of teres major muscle

Question 12

Where does brachial artery end?

Answer 12

Terminates by bifurcating into radial and ulnar arteries just distal to bend of elbow; superficial and palpable along medial side of arm

Question 13

What happens to the brachial artery as it descends towards the elbow?

Answer 13

Curves laterally and passes through cubital fossa

Question 14

What is cubital fossa?

Answer 14

Triangular depression anterior to elbow, can easily detect pulse here

Question 15

What is the radial artery?

Answer 15

Smaller branch of brachial bifurcation, direct continuation of brachial artery

Question 16

Where does the radial artery pass?

Answer 16

Lateral (radial) aspect of forearm and enters wrist where it bifurcates into superficial and deep branches that anastomose with corresponding branches of the ulnar

Question 17

What does anastomose mean?

Answer 17

Connections

Question 18

What side of the arm does the radial artery travel down?

Answer 18

Side near thumb

Question 19

What side of the arm does the ulnar artery travel down?

Answer 19

Side near pinky

Question 20

What is the ulnar artery?

Answer 20

Larger branch of brachial artery which passes along medial (ulnar) aspect of the forearm and then into the wrist, where is branches into superficial and deep branches that enter the hand

Question 21

What do the radial and ulnar arteries anastomose to form?

Answer 21

Palmar arches of hand

Question 22

What is the superficial palmer arch?

Answer 22

Formed mainly by superficial branch of ulnar artery, with contribution from superficial branch of radial artery; superficial to long flexor tendons of fingers and extends across palm at base of metacarpals

Question 23

What does the superficial palmer arch give rise to?

Answer 23

Common palmar digital arteries each which divide into proper palmar digital arteries

Question 24

What is deep palmar arch?

Answer 24

Arises from deep branch of radial artery, but receives contribution from deep branch of ulnar; deep to long flexor tendons of fingers and extends across palm at base of metacarpals

Question 25

What does the deep palmar arch give rise to?

Answer 25

Common palmar digital arteries, each of which anastomose with common palmar digital arteries from superficial arch

Question 26

What is the arm called?

Answer 26

Brachium

Question 27

What is the route of anastomoses of the upper limb?

Answer 27

1st rib (scapular)- Subclavian, Axillary, Brachial
Elbow- Branching- medial (ulnar), lateral (radial)
Wrist + Hand

Question 28

What is the deep networks in the hand supplied by?

Answer 28

Radial artery, ends up in ulnar

Superficial- opposite

Question 29

What is the pathway of deep veins drainage?

Answer 29

Deep veins-> flank arteries -> converge into axillary

Question 30

What is the pathway of superficial veins drainage?

Answer 30

Superficial veins-> converge into cephalic and bailic vein

Question 31

What is the pathway of perforating veins drainage?

Answer 31

Perforating veins-> connect superficial and deep veins

Question 32

How do veins get squished by arteries?

Answer 32

Arteries pulse and squish veins, veins bounce which allow movement of blood
Deep veins following brachial radial and ulnar arteries

Question 33

Where is the median nerve?

Answer 33

In the forearm

Question 34

What does the musculotaneous nerve supply?

Answer 34

Motor: coracobrachialis, brachialis, biceps brachii