Vasculature of the Upper Limb

Question 1

What are the main branches of the ulnar artery?

(Hint: 3 big branching sites)

Answer 1

• Anterior and Posterior Ulnar Recurrent Artery
  
  • these anastamose with Ulnar Collateral Arteries
• Common Interosseous a.
  
  • Anterior branch
  • Posterior branch
  • Recurrent branch
• Palmar Branches
  
  • Superficial palmar arch -Ulnar a. is main contributor
  • Deep palmar arch - (radial a. is main contributor)

Question 2

What are the 3 main branches from the brachial artery? (from superior to inferior)

Answer 2

1. Profunda Brachii
2. Superior Ulnar collateral
3. Inferior Ulnar collateral

Question 3

1. What is the most important branch of the radial artery
2. What does that branch anastamose with?
3. What does the radial artery do in the hand?

Answer 3

1. Radial Recurrent Artery
2. Radial recurrent artery branches around the radial tuberosity, and runs proximally until it anastamoses wa collateral branch of the Profunda Brachii artery
3. Crosses lateral edge of anatomical snuff box (Abductor Pollicis Longus) and anastamoses with deep branch of ulnar a. to form **deep palmar arch **
   
   1. ​Main contributor to deep palmar arch

Question 4

Where does the ulnar artery cross into the hand?

Answer 4

Lateral to the ulnar nerve, anterior to the flexor retinaculum (within the canal of Guyon)

Question 5

What are the 2 terminal branches of the ulnar a?

Answer 5

Superficial Palmar Branch (main contributor to superficial palmar arch)

and

Deep palmar branch (less of a contributor)

Question 6

Where does the radial a. cross into the hand?

Answer 6

Crosses along the lateral floor of the anatomical snuff box, separating into a deep and superficial branch

Radial pulse is felt just anterior to distal radius, before split of radius into superficial and dorsal branches

Question 7

What additionally branches from the deep palmar arch of radial?

Answer 7

1. Palmar metacarpal
2. Princeps pollicis (near thumb)
3. Radialis indicis (near index finger)

Question 8

What test can be performed to see if collateral circulation is adequate in the hand (ie in coronary bypass)?

Answer 8

Allen test - you compress either ulnar or radial, and if hand stays vascularized, then you have adequate collateral circulation from the un-compressed artery