Persistent Median Artery Prevalence: A Cadaveric Study

The persistent median artery (PMA) is a blood vessel present during early embryonic development via morphogenesis. Due to its proximity to the median nerve (MN), the PMA is often associated with pain, especially related to carpal tunnel syndrome, anterior interosseous nerve compression, and hand motor dysfunction. As previous literature has reported a wide spectrum of data on prevalence, this cadaveric study aims to not only assess the prevalence of PMA but also collect vessel data in relation to the median nerve.

Cadaveric human forearms (N = 102) were dissected and identified for the prevalence and orientation of PMA. Measurement of vessel lumen thickness was also performed. Data points were then compared to previous literature to assess for any remarkable differences in findings.

The prevalence from this dissection study was approximately 12.7% (13/102). Orientation of the PMA in relation to the median nerve was noted to be found in various configurations, including anterior-piercing (61.5%, 8/13), laterally (30.8%, 4/13), or medially (7.7%, 1/13). Unilateral PMA distribution (9/13) was found to be greater than bilateral distribution (4/13). The average measured diameter of the PMA was found to be 0.45 ± 0.15 mm.

Findings from the present study are moderately consistent with previous literature, as the anterior-piercing type is most reported. Prevalence is also within range compared to previous studies. Assessing the prevalence, location, and orientation of the PMA in reference to the proximity of the carpal tunnel is crucial, as this vessel is linked to carpal tunnel compression and postoperative complications.