Corpus: Brachial artery
from latin: arteria - artery; brachium - arm
Definition
The brachial artery is a large arterial blood vessel in the area of the upper arm. It is a continuation of the axillary artery, which changes its name at about the level of the lower edge of the tendon of the teres major muscle. It retains this name until it branches into its two end branches (radial artery and ulnar artery) in the cubital fossa.
The short section of the brachial artery that runs in the cubital fossa is also called the "cubital artery".
Division
- Right brachial artery
- Left brachial artery
Course
In its course within the medial bicipital sulcus, it comes to lie above the medial intermuscular brachial septum and runs along this on the medial side of the humerus almost unpadded on the bone to the cubital fossa. As it passes into the cubital fossa, it crosses under the aponeurosis of the biceps muscle to finally divide into its two terminal branches.
Main branches
- Ulnar artery
- Radial artery
Secondary branches
- Profunda brachii artery
- Superior collateral ulnar artery
- Inferior collateral ulnar artery
- Further branches to adjacent supply areas
Variety
A second superficial brachial artery may exist as an anatomical variety. It branches off in the axilla and continues distally into the radial artery. The vessel runs superficially and can therefore be damaged during blood sampling and by intra-arterial injection of medication.
Clinic
Due to its narrow course along the humerus, the brachial artery is extremely vulnerable in humeral shaft fractures and can be affected. However, in addition to the aforementioned disadvantage, the proximity to the humerus has the advantage that the artery can be compressed very well as an initial measure in distal arm injuries, thus preventing major blood loss.
The pulse of the brachial artery can be easily felt at the ulnar edge of the biceps (in the medial bicipital groove).