The hand receives blood supply from the ulnar and radial arteries and drains into veins bearing the same name; it is innervated by branches of the ulnar, median, and radial nerve.
Blood supply
The blood vessels supplying the hand are the ulnar and radial arteries.
These vessels form vascular arches that are connected to each other and provide blood supply to the muscles, joints and digits of the hand.
Ulnar artery
The ulnar artery is found medially in the forearm, supplying the medial aspect of the forearm.
Course
The ulnar artery enters the hand on its medial aspect, between the palmaris brevis muscle and the flexor retinaculum. It passes through the ulnar canal (Guyon canal) lateral to the pisiform and medial to the hook of the hamate.
Branches
The ulnar artery branches into two terminal branches:
- The superficial palmar arch – A direct continuation of the ulnar artery, with the long flexor tendons of the digits found deep to it and the palmar aponeurosis located superficially.
- The deep palmar branch – Branches off from the ulnar artery on its medial aspect, passes through the origin of the hypothenar muscles and around the hook of the hamate to reach the deep surface of the palm, and finally anastomoses with the deep palmar arch of the radial artery.