Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Creating Radio-cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula in the Forearm with a Modified No-Touch Technique
Published on: April 1, 2022
Unusual ending of the second dorsal metacarpal artery as proper palmar digital arteries
H F Bianchi, C A Vargas, N E Ottone1
1Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. nicolas.ottone@ufrontera.cl.
Background:
The proper palmar digital arteries arise infrequently from dorsal metacarpal arteries. This work reports the second dorsal metacarpal artery unusual ending and a vascular variation related to the superficial palmar arch.
Materials And Methods:
Fresh human upper limbs routine dissection, from a male cadaver, injected with coloured elastomeric material, immersed in 10% formalin.
Results:
The second dorsal metacarpal artery presented terminal branches, the index finger medial proper digital palmar artery and the middle finger lateral proper digital palmar artery. At the division point of both terminal branches, the second dorsal metacarpal artery anastomoses with a thin forth common digital palmar artery.
Conclusions:
The value of this knowledge about the infrequent vascular dispo-sition lies in vascularised flaps design using the second dorsal metacarpal artery. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 393-396).
Related Concept Videos
Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...
The Arch of Aorta
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
Arteries of the Upper Limbs
Arteries of Lower Limbs
Veins of Upper Limbs
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...
Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings I: Inspection and Palpation
Abnormal findings observed during an inspection

