{"id":3642,"date":"2021-01-08T10:59:08","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T09:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/arm\/neurovasculature\/"},"modified":"2022-06-16T13:43:25","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T11:43:25","slug":"neurovasculature-of-the-arm","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/arm\/neurovasculature-of-the-arm\/","title":{"rendered":"Neurovasculature of the arm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div class=\"intro\">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.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n<span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_1\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Blood supply<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_1\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>brachial artery<\/strong> provides the main arterial supply to the arm. It begins at the lower border of the teres major muscle as a continuation of the <strong>axillary artery<\/strong>, located medially within the anterior compartment of the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>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.<\/li><li>It runs laterally between the two epicondyles of the humerus, accompanied by the median nerve.<\/li><li>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 <strong>radial<\/strong> and <strong>ulnar arteries<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_2\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Branches<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_2\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout its course, it supplies the surrounding muscles through several <strong>muscular branches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main branches of the brachial artery include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>profunda brachii artery<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>superior ulnar collateral artery<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>humeral nutrient artery<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>inferior ulnar collateral artery<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_3\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Profunda brachii artery<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_3\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>profunda brachii artery<\/strong> (deep artery of the arm), the first and largest branch, originates medially, near the proximal end of the humerus.<ul><li>It passes posteriorly to enter the posterior compartment of the arm along with the radial nerve.<\/li><li>Together, they pass through the <strong>triangular interval<\/strong>, formed by the shaft of the humerus, the inferior margin of the teres major muscle, and the lateral margin of the long head of the triceps brachii muscle (further discussed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/axilla\/\">Axilla<\/a> article).<\/li><li>They then pass along the radial groove on the posterior surface of the shaft of the humerus, deep to the lateral head of the triceps brachii muscle.<\/li><li>The profunda brachii artery ends by dividing into the <strong>middle<\/strong> and <strong>radial collateral arteries<\/strong> around the elbow, supplying and participating in the arterial anastomosis of the elbow joint, .<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_4\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Superior ulnar collateral artery<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_4\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>superior ulnar collateral artery<\/strong> arises medially in the middle of the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It accompanies the ulnar nerve posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. <\/li><li>It ends by anastomosing with the <strong>posterior ulnar recurrent<\/strong> and <strong>inferior ulnar collateral arteries<\/strong>, participating in the elbow&#8217;s periarticular arterial supply.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_5\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Humeral nutrient artery<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_5\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>humeral nutrient artery<\/strong> arises laterally in the middle of the arm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Typically, it originates below the nutrient foramen of the humerus, ascending and then entering into the foramen, supplying the bone and bone marrow.<\/li><li>It can vary in its origin and course; in some cases, it originates from the deep brachial artery.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_6\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Inferior ulnar collateral artery<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_6\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>inferior ulnar collateral artery<\/strong> arises medially above the cubital fossa, passing inferomedially anterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus to join the <strong>anterior ulnar recurrent<\/strong> and <strong>superior ulnar collateral arteries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_7\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Venous drainage<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_7\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A pair of<\/strong><strong> brachial veins<\/strong> accompany the brachial artery at both sides, receiving tributaries that accompany branches of the artery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They begin in the elbow as a result of the union of the <strong>accompanying veins of the ulnar and radial arteries<\/strong>, and end as tributaries of the <strong>basilic vein<\/strong> to form the <strong>axillary vein<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, two large <strong>subcutaneous veins<\/strong> are located in the arm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>basilic vein<\/strong>, which passes vertically and medially in the arm, then penetrating the deep fascia, placing itself medial to the brachial artery, and becoming the <strong>axillary vein<\/strong> at the lower border of the teres major muscle.<\/li><li>The <strong>cephalic vein<\/strong>, which places itself superior on the anterolateral aspect of the arm, then passing through the anterior wall of the axilla to become a tributary of the <strong>axillary vein<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_8\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Innervation<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_8\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Originated from the <strong>brachial plexus<\/strong>, four main nerves are located in the arm, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>musculocutaneous nerve<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>median nerve<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>ulnar nerve<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>radial nerve<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_9\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Musculocutaneous nerve<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_9\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>musculocutaneous nerve<\/strong> leaves the axilla inferior to the pectoralis minor, entering the arm through the coracobrachialis muscle. It continues diagonally down the arm between the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It emerges laterally to the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle at the elbow, penetrating the deep fascia and continuing as the <strong>lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm<\/strong>.<\/li><li>It provides <strong>motor branches<\/strong> to all the muscles in the anterior compartment of the arm and <strong>sensory innervation<\/strong> to the skin on the lateral surface of the forearm.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_10\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Median nerve<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_10\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>median nerve<\/strong> leaves the axilla inferior to the teres major muscle, is found in the medial side of the anterior compartment of the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Proximally<\/strong>, it is <strong>lateral to the brachial artery<\/strong>, while <strong>distally<\/strong>, it locates <strong>medial <\/strong>to it.<\/li><li>As it descends into the cubital fossa, it lies deep to the bicipital aponeurosis and median cubital vein.<\/li><li>It provides <strong>articular branches to the elbow joint<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_11\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Ulnar nerve<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_11\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>ulnar nerve<\/strong> enters the arm with the median nerve and axillary artery, accompanies medially the brachial artery and penetrates the medial intermuscular septum in the middle of the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In the posterior compartment of the arm, it lies anterior to the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle.<\/li><li>It passes posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus, where it becomes superficial, easily palpable, and vulnerable to injury. It then enters into the anterior compartment of the forearm.<\/li><li>It provides <strong>articular branches to the elbow joint<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_12\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Radial nerve<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_12\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>radial nerve <\/strong>enters the arm posterior to the brachial artery, medial to the humerus, and anterior to the long head of the triceps, descends inferolaterally with the profunda brachii artery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It passes through the triangular interval and around the shaft of the humerus in the radial groove.<\/li><li>In the lateral border of the humerus, it penetrates the lateral intermuscular septum to continue inferiorly in the anterior compartment of the arm between the brachialis and brachioradialis muscles.<\/li><li>It is found anterior to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, where it divides into <strong>deep (motor) <\/strong>and<strong> superficial (sensorial) branches that go to the forearm<\/strong>.<\/li><li>It provides <strong>motor branches<\/strong> to all the muscles in the posterior compartment of the arm and <strong>sensory innervation<\/strong> through its terminal branches, the <strong>inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm,<\/strong> and the <strong>posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_13\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">References and further reading<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_13\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Fiac, Moore Keith MSc PhD Hon. DSc, et al.\u00a0<em>Clinically Oriented Anatomy<\/em>. 8th ed., LWW, 2017. p715<\/li><li>Faaa, Drake Richard PhD, et al.\u00a0<em>Gray\u2019s Anatomy for Students<\/em>. 4th ed., Elsevier, 2019. p722<\/li><li>Ichimura K, Kinose S, Kawasaki Y, Okamura T, Kato K, Sakai T. Anatomic characterization of the humeral nutrient artery: <em>Application to fracture and surgery of the humerus. <\/em>Clin Anat. 2017 Oct;30(7):978-987. doi: 10.1002\/ca.22976. Epub 2017 Aug 21. PMID: 28795436.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/span><div id=\"the_titles\" style=\"display:none;\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Blood supply<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Branches<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Profunda brachii artery<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Superior ulnar collateral artery<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Humeral nutrient artery<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inferior ulnar collateral artery<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Venous drainage<\/h3><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Innervation<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Musculocutaneous nerve<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Median nerve<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ulnar nerve<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Radial nerve<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">References and further reading<\/h3><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3466,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3642","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Neurovasculature of the arm &#8211; Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/arm\/neurovasculature-of-the-arm\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/upper-limb\\\/arm\\\/neurovasculature-of-the-arm\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/upper-limb\\\/arm\\\/neurovasculature-of-the-arm\\\/\",\"name\":\"Neurovasculature of the arm &#8211; 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