Radial Artery

RADIAL ARTERY

• It is one of the terminal branch of brachial artery, arising in cubital fossa.
• In middle third of forearm it accompanies the superficial branch of radial nerve.
• At the level of radial styloid process, it passes backward to enter into anatomical snuff box.
• Radial artery is the only content of anatomical snuff box.
• Leaving the anatomical snuff box it passes b/w two heads of first dorsal interosseous muscle & then b/w two heads of adductor pollicis.
• After that it continues as deep palmar arch, which is completed by deep branch of ulnar artery.

Branches of radial artery are:

A. In forearm

1) Radial recurrent: Anastomoses with the radial collateral branch of profunda brachii.

2. Palmar carpal branch: Forms palmar carpal arterial arch with:

• Palmar carpal branch of ulnar artery
• Branch from anterior interosseous artery
• Recurrent branch of deep palmar arch

3. Superficial palmar branch: It terminates by completing the superficial palmar arch, which is mainly formed by superficial branch of ulnar artery.

B. In Dorsum of hand

1. Dorsal carpal branch: Forms dorsal carpal arterial arch with

• Dorsal branch of ulnar artery
• Branch from anterior interosseous artery
• Branch from posterior interosseous artery

2. First dorsal metacarpal branch: Supplies dorsum of thumb & lateral margin of index finger.

C. In the Palm

1. Princeps pollicis artery: Supplies palmar aspect of thumb.
2. Radialis indicis artery: Supplies palmar aspect of radial margin of index finger.

Exam Question

• Radial artery is the  terminal branch of brachial artery, arising in cubital fossa
• Radial artery is the only content of anatomical snuff box.