Arterial vascularization of the trapezo-metacarpal joint

The authors have dissected 24 hands previously injected with a mixture of micropaque gelatin and minium. The arterial supply of the trapezo-metacarpal joint is provided through an anastomotic circle connecting four networks (dorsal, volar, ulnar and radial). These four networks are all supplied by branches from the radial artery. Each network has one main artery and several other additional smaller arteries. Even when the radial artery has an abnormal direction, the same type of vascular supply for the trapezo-metacarpal joint is preserved, but its sources are different.