Rare bilateral vascular variations of the upper limb: a cadaveric case study

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Vascular Anatomy
• Surgical Anatomy

Background:

• Arterial variations in the upper limb possess significant clinical relevance for various medical procedures.
• Understanding these variations is essential for successful surgical interventions and patient safety.

Observation:

• A detailed examination of a 95-year-old female cadaver revealed previously undocumented arterial variations in both upper limbs.
• Noteworthy observations included bilateral superficial ulnar arteries originating from the cubital fossa.

Findings:

• The right axillary artery exhibited two superior thoracic arteries, an accessory subscapular branch, and a large subscapular artery branching into lateral thoracic and posterior circumflex humeral arteries.
• The left axillary artery presented a common trunk for transverse cervical, dorsal scapular, accessory lateral thoracic, and subscapular arteries.
• Bilateral direct origin of the acromial artery from the axillary artery was also observed.

Implications:

• These unique vascular anatomical variants highlight the importance of recognizing anatomical diversity in surgical planning.
• Clinicians must be aware of such variations to mitigate risks and improve outcomes in procedures involving the upper limb vasculature.
• This case underscores the need for thorough pre-operative assessment and anatomical knowledge in vascular surgery and related fields.