Brachial artery

Artery: Brachial artery
The brachial artery.
Right upper limb, anterior view, brachial artery and elbow.
Latin	arteria brachialis
Gray's	subject #150 589
Supplies	biceps brachii muscle, triceps brachii muscle
Source	axillary artery
Branches	Profunda brachii Superior ulnar collateral artery Inferior ulnar collateral artery
Drain	brachial vein
MeSH	Brachial+Artery

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm.

It is a continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. It then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries which run down the forearm. In some individuals, the bifurcation occurs much earlier and the ulnar and radial arteries extend through the upper arm. The pulse of the brachial artery is palpable on the anterior aspect of the elbow, medial to the tendon of the biceps, and, with the use of a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) often used to measure the blood pressure.

The brachial artery is closely related to the median nerve; in proximal regions, the median nerve is immediately lateral to the brachial artery. In more distal regions, the median nerve crosses the medial side of the brachial artery and lies anterior to the elbow joint.

Branches

• Profunda brachii artery (also known as the deep brachial artery)
• Superior ulnar collateral artery
• Inferior ulnar collateral artery
• Radial artery (a terminal branch)
• ulnar artery (a terminal branch)
• humeral branches (branches supply the humerus)

important anastomotic networks of the elbow and (as the axillary artery) the shoulder.

Note that for examination puroposes, the biceps head is most lateral, the brachial artery is medial to this. Medial to the brachial artery is the median nerve.

Additional images

Cross-section through the middle of upper arm.	The axillary artery and its branches.	The radial and ulnar arteries.	Ulnar and radial arteries. Deep view.
The deep veins of the upper extremity.	The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front.	Front of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones, arteries, and nerves.

External links

• Dissection at mvm.ed.ac.uk
• Image at umich.edu - pulse
• Brachial+artery at eMedicine Dictionary
• lesson4arteriesofarm at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)