Journal of Medical Case Reports (Nov 2007)

A rare variant of the superficial ulnar artery, and its clinical implications: a case report

  • Senanayake Kithsiri J,
  • Salgado Sujatha,
  • Rathnayake Manjula J,
  • Fernando Ranil,
  • Somarathne Kosala

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-1-128
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 1
p. 128

Abstract

Read online

Abstract The superficial ulnar artery is a rare variation of the upper limb arterial system that arises from the brachial or axillary artery and runs superficial to the muscles arising from the medial epicondyle 123. The incidence is about 0.7 to 7% 145. In our routine dissections we found a superficial ulnar artery, which crossed the cubital fossa superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis making it highly vulnerable to intra-arterial injection. This is a rare variation that every medical and nursing staff member should know about.