Variations in termination of brachial artery--a case report

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Vascular Anatomy
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• The brachial artery typically bifurcates into radial and ulnar arteries below the elbow crease.
• The common interosseous artery usually originates from the ulnar artery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and report variations in the terminal branching pattern of the brachial artery.
• To document differences in brachial artery termination between the left and right upper limbs of an individual.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical dissection and observation of the brachial artery and its branches in both upper limbs of a single cadaver.
• Comparison of the branching patterns, including the origin of the common interosseous artery and vessel caliber.

Main Results:

• The left upper limb exhibited a typical brachial artery bifurcation with the common interosseous artery arising from the ulnar artery.
• The right upper limb showed an anatomical variation where the common interosseous artery originated from the radial artery.
• Both limbs displayed superficial positioning of radial and ulnar arteries relative to flexor muscles, with caliber differences noted.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights significant anatomical variations in brachial artery termination and common interosseous artery origin within the same individual.
• Such variations underscore the importance of detailed anatomical knowledge for clinical and surgical procedures involving the upper limb vasculature.