Human Anatomy Vol 1

UPPER LIMB

Radial aftery

Supedicial palmar branch

Deep palmar arch

Princeps pollicis artery

Palmar metacarpal arteries

Radialis indicis artery

Flexor retinaculum

Ulnar artery

Pisiform bone

Deep branch of ulnar artery

Hamate

Superficial palmar arch

Digital arteries

Superficial

branch of

radial nerve

Extensor

pollicis brevis

Abductor

pollicis longus

Fig. 9.32: The superficial and deep palmar arches

Radial artery

Cephalic vein

Extensor pollicis

longus

Relotions

1 It leaves the forearm by winding backwards round

the wrist.

2 It passes through the anatomical snuff box where it

lies deep to the tendons of the abductor pollicis

longus, the extensor pollicis brevis and the extensor

pollicis longus.

It is also crossed by the digital branches of the

radial nerve.

The artery is superficial to the lateral ligament of

the wrist joint, the scaphoid and the trapezium.

3 It reaches the proximal end of the first interosseous

space and passes between the two heads of the first

dorsal interosseous muscle to reach the palm.

4 In the palm, the radial artery runs medially. At first

it lies deep to the oblique head of the adductor

pollicis, and then passes between the two heads of

this muscle to form deep palmar arch. Therefore, it

is known as the deep palmar arch (Fig.9.32).

Bronches

Dorsum af hand: On the dorsum of the hand, the radial

artery gives off:

L A branch to the lateral side of the dorsum of the

thumb.

2 The first dorsal metacarpnl artery. This artery arises just

before the radial artery passes into the interval

between the two heads of the first dorsal interosseous

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CL

EL

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Fig. 9.33: Anatomical snuff box

Course

Radial artery runs obliquely from the site of "radial

pulse" to reach the anatomical snuff box. From there it

passes forwards to reach first interosseous space and

then into the palm.