Vasculature of the upper extremity

Question 1

Subclavian artery

Answer 1

This is the primary artery providing the arm with blood.
- this will turn into the axillary artery

• this has the thyrocervical trunk branching off of it which turns into the suprascapular artery and the dorsal scapular artery

Question 2

Axillary artery:

Answer 2

This artery is continuous with the subclavian artery from the lateral border of the first rib to the inferior border of the teres major muscle.
this artery has three sections that it can be divided into to divide up where the branches come from

Question 3

1st part of the axillary artery

Answer 3

• this branches into the superior thoracic artery

- this section is proximal to the pectoralis minor

Question 4

2nd part of the axillary artery

Answer 4

• this has two branches

1. thoracoacromial trunk
2. lateral thoracic artery

• this is the portion that is under the pectoralis minor

Question 5

3rd part of the axillary artery

Answer 5

• this has three branches

1. subscapular artery
2. anterior circumflex humeral artery
3. posterior circumflex humeral artery

Question 6

thyrocervical trunk

Answer 6

this is going to branch into the suprascapular artery and the dorsal scapular artery

Question 7

suprascapular artery

Answer 7

You can observe this in the deep dissection running over the transverse scapular ligament of the suprascapular notch and traveling to the supraspinatus.

runs through the supraspinous fossa and travels under the scapular spine to provide the infraspinous fossa

• supplies the supraspinatus and the infraspinatous

Question 8

dorsal scapular artery

Answer 8

travels posteriorly and it travels to the medial boarder of the scapula

• supplies the levator scapulae, rhomboids, and trapezius

Question 9

Superior thoracic artery:

Answer 9

This is the only branch off of the first part of the axillary artery.

It will run inferiorly to the superior thoracic wall.

supplies the serratus anterior

Question 10

Lateral thoracic artery

Answer 10

This artery branches from the second part of the axillary artery and runs with the long thoracic nerve along the lateral thoracic wall to supply the lateral wall and the serratus anterior.

runs more laterally on the rib cage compared to the superior thoracic artery

supplies the serratus anterior and pectoralis muscles

Don’t confuse the lateral thoracic artery and long thoracic nerve!

Question 11

Thoracoacromial trunk:

Answer 11

This is a short trunk off of the superior side of the second part of the axillary artery.

It branches almost immediately into four parts that supply the acromion, deltoid, pectoral muscles, and clavicle

Question 12

Posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries

Answer 12

These arteries branch from the third part of the axillary artery.

They wrap around the surgical neck of the humerus and anastomose (join) with each other to provide circulation to this region via multiple routes.

They sometimes branch from a common trunk, or they can branch separately from the axillary artery.

• the posterior circumflex humeral artery runs posteriorly around the humerus with the axillary nerve, while the anterior circumflex humeral artery runs anteriorly around the humerus.

Question 13

Subscapular artery

Answer 13

is a short branch off the third part of the axillary artery.
- but it is the largest branch

As it runs inferiorly, it gives off two branches. You can also observe these on the plastinated tissue.

gives off the circumflex scapular artery and the thoracodorsal artery

Question 14

Circumflex scapular artery

Answer 14

This runs posteriorly around the lateral scapula.

• a branch of the subscapular artery
• this supplies the posterior inferior scapular region
• it is going to wrap around to the posterior and connect to the suprascapular artery
• this supplies the teres major and teres minor

Question 15

Thoracodorsal artery:

Answer 15

This artery runs with the thoracodorsal nerve to the latissimus dorsi muscle.

• a branch of the subscapular artery

this is going to supply the latissimus dorsi and the serratus anterior

Question 16

Brachial artery

Answer 16

This artery is continuous with the axillary artery at the inferior border of the teres major. It continues through the brachium to supply muscles of the anterior arm.

has a branch: the deep brachial artery

when this enters the cubital fossa it divides into the radial and ulnar arteries

Question 17

deep brachial artery

Answer 17

• also called the profunda brachii
• a branch off the brachial artery
• this supplies the triceps
• contributes to collateral circulation of the elbow

Question 18

radial artery

Answer 18

• a branch off the brachial artery after the cubital fossa

- runs on the lateral forearm and hand

Question 19

ulnar artery

Answer 19

• a branch off the brachial artery after the cubital fossa

- runs on the medial forearm and hand, deep anterior and posterior forearm muscles

Question 20

superficial and deep palmar arteries

Answer 20

These are formed from the ulnar and radial arteries.

these give off the digital arteries of the hand

Question 21

scapular anastomoses

Answer 21

if the axillary artery is blocked proximal to the subscapular artery, a collateral pathway can be made between the branches of the axillary and subclavian arteries

this is important because it can get blood to where it needs to be by changing the flow of the blood

blood flow will be reversed in the subscapular artery to get blood to the third part of the axillary artery

Question 22

cephalic vein

Answer 22

runs on the lateral aspect of the forearm and arm

• this drains into the axillary vein
• a superficial vein that originates on the forearm

Question 23

basilic vein

Answer 23

runs on the medial aspect of the forearm and arm.

- this merges with the brachial to form the axillary vein

Question 24

median cubital vein

Answer 24

• joins the basilic and cephalic veins in the cubital fossa.

The median cubital vein is a common site for blood draws.

Question 25

ulnar vein

Answer 25

• a deep vein in the arm

- on the medial side of the arm

Question 26

radial vein

Answer 26

• a deep vein in the arm

- on the lateral side of the arm

Question 27

brachial vein

Answer 27

deep vein in the arm
- looks to be more posterior than the radial and ulnar

this drains the blood from the muscles of the arm

• joins the basilic vein to become the axillary vein

Question 28

axillary vein

Answer 28

• this is the joining of the basilic and brachial veins

- this drains into the subclavian vein

Question 29

subclavian vein

Answer 29

a paired large vein, one on either side of the body, that is responsible for draining blood from the upper extremities, allowing this blood to return to the heart.