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Median artery revisited.

M Rodríguez-Niedenführ1, J R Sañudo, T Vázquez

  • 1Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.

Journal of Anatomy
|September 3, 1999
PubMed
Summary

The persistent median artery in adults appears in two forms: palmar and antebrachial. These variations have different incidences, origins, and relationships with nerves, offering insights into human vascular anatomy.

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Area of Science:

  • Anatomy
  • Human Embryology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • The median artery is a transient embryonic vessel that typically regresses during fetal development.
  • Persistence of the median artery in adult anatomy is a known variation with potential clinical implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of the persistent median artery in an adult human population.
  • To differentiate between the palmar and antebrachial patterns of the persistent median artery based on their vascular territories and anatomical course.

Main Methods:

  • A cadaveric study involving the dissection and analysis of 120 adult human upper limbs.
  • Detailed examination of the origin, course, termination, and relationship with adjacent nerves (anterior interosseous nerve and median nerve) for each identified median artery pattern.

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Main Results:

  • Two distinct patterns of persistent median artery were identified: palmar (20% incidence) and antebrachial (76% incidence in a subset).
  • The palmar type, representing the embryonic pattern, was larger and reached the palm, frequently originating from the ulnar artery. The antebrachial type was slender, terminated in the forearm, and often arose from the anterior interosseous artery.
  • Variations in nerve relations were noted, with the palmar type piercing the median nerve in 41% of cases, while the antebrachial type did not.

Conclusions:

  • The persistent median artery is a common anatomical variation with distinct palmar and antebrachial forms.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate anatomical interpretation and surgical planning in the upper limb.