5 Arteries of the Upper Limb

Arteries of the upper limb arise from a continuation of the

subclavian arteries. Once the subclavian artery emerges from ARTERY COURSE
beneath the clavicle and crosses the first rib, its name changes Posterior ulnar Anastomoses with superior ulnar collateral
to the axillary artery as it courses through the axillary region ­recurrent in arm
(armpit). Once the axillary artery reaches the inferior border of Common interosseous Gives rise to anterior and posterior interosseous
the teres major muscle, it becomes the brachial artery, which it- arteries

self divides into the ulnar and radial arteries in the cubital fossa Palmar carpal branch Anastomoses with carpal branch of radial artery
(region anterior to the elbow).

The axillary artery begins at the 1st rib and descriptively is
divided into three parts by the presence of the overlying pecto-
ralis minor muscle. Branches of the subclavian and axillary artery
form a rich anastomosis around the scapula, supplying
the muscles acting on the shoulder joint.
The ulnar and radial arteries anastomose in the palm of the
hand by forming two palmar arches. Common digital and
proper digital branches arise from the superficial palmar arch to
supply the fingers. The ulnar and radial arteries are summarized
in the following table.

ARTERY COURSE
PART OF
AXILLARY COURSE AND STRUCTURES Radial
ARTERY BRANCH SUPPLIED
Superficial palmar branch Forms superficial palmar arch with ulnar artery
1 Superior thoracic Supplies first two intercostal spaces
Princeps pollicis Passes under flexor pollicis longus tendon and
2 Thoraco-acromial Has clavicular, pectoral, deltoid, and divides into two proper digital arteries to thumb
acromial branches
Radialis indicis Passes to index finger on its lateral side
Lateral thoracic Runs with long thoracic nerve and
supplies muscles that it traverses Deep palmar arch Is formed by terminal part of radial artery

3 Subscapular Divides into thoracodorsal and Ulnar

­circumflex scapular branches Deep palmar branch Forms deep palmar arch with radial artery
Anterior humeral Passes around surgical neck of Superficial palmar arch Is formed by termination of ulnar artery; gives
circumflex ­humerus circumflex rise to three common digital arteries, each of
Posterior humeral Runs with axillary nerve through the which gives rise to two proper digital arteries
circumflex quadrangular space to anastomose
with anterior circumflex branch

COLOR  the following arteries, using a different color for

The brachial artery is a direct continuation of the axillary artery
each artery:
inferior to the teres major muscle.
n 1. Subclavian
ARTERY COURSE
n 2. Axillary
Brachial Begins at inferior border of teres major and n 3. Brachial
ends at its bifurcation in cubital fossa n 4. Deep brachial
Deep artery of arm Runs with radial nerve around humeral shaft
n 5. Radial
Superior ulnar collateral Runs with ulnar nerve
n 6. Ulnar
Inferior ulnar collateral Passes anterior to medial epicondyle
of humerus n 7. Deep palmar arch
Radial Is smaller lateral branch of brachial artery n 8. Superficial palmar arch
Ulnar Is larger medial branch of brachial artery

Clinical Note:
The brachial artery divides into the ulnar and radial arteries in the
Pulse points of the upper limb include:
cubital fossa.
• Brachial: in the proximal third of the medial arm, where the
brachial artery can be pressed against the humerus
ARTERY COURSE • Cubital: brachial artery in the cubital fossa, medial to the bi-
Radial Arises from brachial artery in cubital fossa ceps tendon and just before it divides into the ulnar and radial
Radial recurrent branch Anastomoses with radial collateral artery in arm branches
Palmar carpal branch Anastomoses with carpal branch of ulnar artery • Radial: common site for taking a pulse, felt just lateral to the
flexor carpi radialis tendon in the distal forearm (at the wrist)
Ulnar Arises from brachial artery in cubital fossa
• Ulnar: in the distal forearm (wrist), just lateral to the flexor carpi
Anterior ulnar recurrent Anastomoses with inferior ulnar collateral in arm
ulnaris tendon

Plate 5-12 See Netter: Atlas of Human Anatomy, 6th Edition, Plates 414 and 420 Cardiovascular System
 Arteries of the Upper Limb 5
A. Arteries of upper limb Vertebral artery
Common carotid arteries
Thyrocervical trunk
Costocervical trunk 1
Suprascapular artery
Brachiocephalic trunk
Thoraco-acromial artery

Subscapular artery

Posterior circumflex
humeral artery Internal thoracic artery

Anterior circumflex
humeral artery Lateral thoracic artery

3 Descending aorta

Common
interosseous
artery
Suprascapular artery

2
5 Thyrocervical trunk

Anterior 1
6 circumflex
humeral
artery
7 Superior
thoracic
Posterior artery
8 circumflex
humeral
artery

Subscapular
artery
Digitals

Thoraco-acromial artery

Circumflex Lateral
B. Branches of axillary artery subscapular artery thoracic artery

Netter’s Anatomy Coloring Book Plate 5-12

5 Arteries of the Lower Limb

Arteries of the lower limb arise from the pelvis. The obturator
artery arises from the internal iliac artery and supplies the me-
dial compartment of the thigh. The much larger femoral artery
arises as a direct continuation of the external iliac artery as it
passes beneath the inguinal ligament. These two arteries are
summarized in the following table.
passes inferior to the medial malleolus and divides into the
medial and lateral plantar arteries. The medial plantar divides
into superficial and deep branches, whereas the lateral plantar
forms a deep plantar arch and anastomoses with arteries on the
dorsum of the foot.

COLOR  the following arteries of the lower limb, using a

ARTERY COURSE AND STRUCTURES SUPPLIED different color for each artery:
Obturator Arises from internal iliac artery (pelvis); has anterior
and posterior branches; passes through obturator
n 1. Femoral
foramen n 2. Popliteal
Femoral Continuation of external iliac artery with numerous n 3. Anterior tibial
branches to perineum, hip, thigh, and knee
Deep artery of thigh Arises from femoral artery; supplies hip and thigh
n 4. Posterior tibial
n 5. Dorsalis pedis
n 6. Medial plantar
In the distal thigh, the femoral artery passes through the adduc-
tor hiatus of the adductor magnus muscle to reach the posterior n 7. Lateral plantar
aspect of the knee, where it becomes the popliteal artery. Just
inferior to the knee, the popliteal artery divides into the anterior
Clinical Note:
and posterior tibial arteries, which course down the leg in the
Pulse points in the lower limb include:
anterior and posterior muscle compartments, respectively. The
• Femoral: just inferior to the inguinal ligament where the femoral
posterior tibial artery also gives rise to a small fibular artery,
artery lies superficial
which courses in the lateral compartment of the leg.
• Popliteal: behind the knee
• Posterior tibial: just superior to the medial malleolus as this
In the foot the anterior tibial artery forms an anastomosis around
artery begins to descend into the foot
the ankle joint and continues on the dorsum of the foot as the
• Dorsalis pedis: on the dorsum of the foot, this is the most
dorsalis pedis artery. The major blood supply to the muscles
distal pulse from the heart
of the sole of the foot arise from the posterior tibial artery, which

Plate 5-13 See Netter: Atlas of Human Anatomy, 6th Edition, Plates 499 and 509 Cardiovascular System
 Arteries of the Lower Limb 5

Common iliac artery

Internal iliac artery

External iliac artery

Deep femoral artery

Lateral circumflex
femoral artery

Medial circumflex
femoral artery

2
Obturator artery

1 3

Adductor hiatus

2
4
Fibular artery

4
7
Fibular artery
6
Plantar arch

5
B. Arteries of leg and sole of foot: posterior view

A. Arteries of lower limb: anterior view

Netter’s Anatomy Coloring Book Plate 5-13