Upper Extremity Arterial Testing Flashcards
What side has a brachiocephalic artery only?
The right side.
What is the first branch off the ascending aorta from the heart?
Brachiocephalic Artery
What does the brachiocephalic artery split into?
It splits into the right common carotid to feed the brain and the right subclavian artery to feed the arm.
Label:
What is the axillary artery?
A large vessel that is starts from the first rib and becomes the brachial artery.
Is the axillary artery superficial or deep?
It is deep because it lies underneath the pectoral muscle.
Where does the brachial artery start?
It srats at the lower axilla (armpit) and runs down the elbow.
What is the major branch of the brachial artery?
The deep brachial artery.
What does the brachial artery branch into?
It branches into the ulnar and radial arteries below the anticubital fossa.
What does it mean for the brachial artery to be variant?
The brachial artery can have a very proximal bifurcation into the radial and ulnar arteries, sometimes above the antecubital fossa and sometimes below the axilla.
Where is the radial artery located?
Thumb side of the hand (lateral)
Where is the ulnar artery located?
On the pinky side of the hand. (medial)
What is the most proximal arch in the hand?
Deep palmar arch.
What does the superfical palmar arch give rise to?
Common digit arteries.
Which of the two arches is the most dominant?
The superficial Palmar Arch.
What is another name for the brachiochepalic artery (BCA)?
Innominate
What are the 5 UE arterial diseases?
- Atherosclerois
- Subclavian steal syndrome
- Thoracic Outlet Compression (TOC)
- Vasopastic Disease, aka Raynaud’s.
- Emboli
Where is atherosclerosis found?
Typically in the subclavian artery.
What are the symptoms of artherosclerosis?
Pain on arm extersion.
What is Thoracic Outlet Compression?
It is compression of the brachial plexus, the subclavian artery and/or subclavian vein in the thoracic outlet or space between the clavicle and the first rib.
What is most commonly affected in TOC?
the nerve, then vein, then artery.
What causes TOC?
- Accesory rib at clavicle
- Overdevelopment of scalene muscle
- Trauma
- Fibrous bands
The artery, vein and never plexus can be compressed by what?
- By the first rib and the clavicle.
- By the first rib and the scalene muscle.
- Between the coracoid process and pectoralis muscle.
What are the 5 symptoms of TOC?
- Pain
- Digital discoloration (emboli)
- Swelling
- Color change
What is the subclavian steal syndrome?
It is an obstruction in the subclavian artery that causes the ipsilateral vertebral artery to act as a collateral to fill it.
To do this, the vertebral artery must reverse in direction esentially “stealing” blood from the brain to feed the arm.
Where is the subclavian steal syndrome mostly prevalent?
On the left side.
What are the symptoms of subclavian steal syndrome?
Rarely causes symptoms, but the most common symptoms include:
- dizziness
What is vasospasm?
It is a condition that occurs when an artery spasms causing vasoconstriction limiting blood flow through the artery in spasm.
How long does a vasospasm last?
Typically temporary, but prolonged.
Where do vasospasm occur?
digital, brain coronary, or other arteries.
What is prolonged digital vasospasm triggered by?
- cold exposure.
- emotion
- chemicals (nicotine)
- occupational trauma to the hands.
What is vasospasm also known as?
Raynaud’s Syndrome.
Is Raynaud’s syndrome uniaterally or bilaterally?
Bilateral.
What are the types of Raynaud’s disease?
- Primary Raynaud’s
- Secondary Raynaud’s
What is Primary Raynaud’s?
- no underlying disease.
- After the vasospasm, the arterial size returns to normal.
- Does NOT result in sevre ischemia resulting in amputation.
What is Secondary Raynaud’s?
- Underlying disease such as scleroderma or lupus.
- CAN lead to severe digital ischemia, which would lead to an amputation.
What is a digital emboli?
Substance from a proximal location flows downstram and gets stuck in the small digital arteries, causing ischemia.