The arterial blood supply to the arm is via the subclavian artery, which arises from the aorta or brachiocephalic trunk. After passing through the posterior scalene gap, it continues as the axillary artery. The axillary artery supplies the shoulder girdle and then becomes the brachial artery, which supplies the upper arm. At the cubital fossa, the brachial artery divides into the radial and ulnar arteries, which run along the forearm to the hand. The arteries are accompanied by homonymous veins.
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Vascular supply of the upper limb
![Vascular supply of the upper limb]()
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Subclavian artery
Important branches
Important anastomoses
Vascular territory
Suprascapular artery
Transverse cervical artery → dorsal scapular artery
- Scapular anastomosis between the suprascapular artery and the circumflex scapular artery (branch of the axillary artery)
- Acromial rete
- Shoulder
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Axillary artery
Course
Branches
Important anastomoses
Vascular territory
- In the axilla it runs lateral to the axillary vein
- Anastomoses with the subclavian artery
- Distal to the axilla it becomes the brachial artery
- Superior thoracic artery
- Thoracoacromial artery → pectoral branch, acromial branch, clavicular branch, and deltoid branch
- Lateral thoracic artery
- Subscapular artery → thoracodorsal artery and circumflex scapular artery
- Anterior circumflex humeral artery
- Posterior circumflex humeral artery
- Acromial rete: between the thoracoacromial artery and the suprascapular artery (branch of the subclavian artery)
- Scapular anastomosis
- Vascular rete around the surgical neck of the humerus (between the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries)
- Shoulder
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Brachial artery
Course
Branches
Important anastomoses
Vascular territory
- Courses distally in the medial bicipital groove
- Deep brachial artery
- Superior ulnar collateral artery
- Inferior ulnar collateral artery
- Articular network of the elbow
- Upper arm
- Elbow
Radial artery
CourseBranchesImportant anastomosesVascular territoryPasses through the radial neurovascular sheath
CourseBranchesImportant anastomosesVascular territoryPasses through the radial neurovascular sheath
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