The arm receives blood supply from the brachial artery which is the continuation of the axillary artery; it drains into brachial veins which form the axillary vein, and receives innervation from the brachial plexus.
Blood supply
The brachial artery provides the main arterial supply to the arm. It begins at the lower border of the teres major muscle as a continuation of the axillary artery, located medially within the anterior compartment of the arm.
- Through its course, it can be found against the medial side of the humerus, anterior to the triceps and brachialis muscles, remaining relatively superficial and palpable.
- It runs laterally between the two epicondyles of the humerus, accompanied by the median nerve.
- It ends anteriorly to the elbow joint, in the cubital fossa, opposite to the neck of the radius and medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle, terminating as it divides into the radial and ulnar arteries.
Branches
Throughout its course, it supplies the surrounding muscles through several muscular branches.
The main branches of the brachial artery include:
- The profunda brachii artery
- The superior ulnar collateral artery
- The humeral nutrient artery
- The inferior ulnar collateral artery
Profunda brachii artery
- The profunda brachii artery (deep artery of the arm), the first and largest branch, originates medially, near the proximal end of the humerus.
- It passes posteriorly to enter the posterior compartment of the arm along with the radial