Clinical Significance of Superficial Brachial Artery and High Division of Brachial Artery

Abstract

Introduction: The brachial artery runs at lower border of the teres major muscle as a continuation of the third part of the axillary artery. It divided into radial and ulnar arteries at the neck of the radius. For surgeons performing operations on the upper extremity, clinical knowledge of the morphology of brachial arteries in the upper limb is important. This study aims to study the course, branching pattern, and termination of the brachial artery in human cadavers. Methods: In this study, 30 upper limb specimens were collected from adult human embalmed cadavers used for undergraduate dissection at the Institute of Anatomy, Madras Medical College in Chennai, India. Results: Of 30 dissected specimens, 29(96.7%) had normal brachial artery course and one had superficial brachial artery (3.3%). The brachial artery division was seen in 28 specimens (93.3%) below the intercondylar line (at the neck of the radius). In 2 cases (6.7%), the brachial artery division into radial and ulnar arteries occurred above the intercondylar line. Conclusion: The variations in origin, course, branching pattern, and termination of the upper limb’s brachial artery are important both structurally and therapeutically. Surgeons, physicians, radiologists, and cardiologists should pay attention to these variations. Due to the use of modern surgical techniques in vascular surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgeries, diagnostic & therapeutic tests, these variances have attracted the attention of surgeons, physicians, radiologists, and interventionists.

Keywords

• brachial artery
• superficial brachial artery
• intercondylar line