The superficial palmar arch is formed predominantly by the
ulnar artery, with a contribution from the
superficial palmar branch of the radial artery
The superficial palmar branch of the radial artery arises from the radial artery, just where this vessel is about to wind around the lateral side of the wrist.
Running forward, it passes through, occasionally over, the thenar muscles, which it sup ...
. However, in some individuals the contribution from the radial artery might be absent, and instead anastomoses with either the
princeps pollicis artery, the
radialis indicis artery, or the
median artery, the former two of which are branches from the radial artery.
Alternative names for this arterial arch are: superficial volar arch, superficial ulnar arch, arcus palmaris superficialis, or arcus volaris superficialis.
[Again, ''palmar'' and ''volar'' may be used synonymously, but ''arcus volaris superficialis'' does not occur in the TA, and can therefore be considered deprecated.]
The arch passes across the
palm in a curve (Boeckel's line) with its convexity downward,
If one were to fully extend the thumb, the superficial palmar arch would lie approximately 1 cm distal from a line drawn between the first web space to the Hook of Hamate (Kaplan's Cardinal Line). The superficial palmar arch extends more
distally than the
deep palmar arch
The deep palmar arch (deep volar arch) is an arterial network found in the palm. It is usually primarily formed from the terminal part of the radial artery. The ulnar artery also contributes through an anastomosis. This is in contrast to the supe ...
. The connection between the deep and superficial palmar arterial arches is an example of
anastomosis
An anastomosis (, plural anastomoses) is a connection or opening between two things (especially cavities or passages) that are normally diverging or branching, such as between blood vessels, leaf#Veins, leaf veins, or streams. Such a connection m ...
, and can be tested for using
Allen's test.
Three
common palmar digital arteries
Three common palmar digital arteries arise from the wikt:convex, convexity of the superficial palmar arch and proceed Anatomical terms of location#Proximal and distal, distally on the second, third, and fourth lumbricals of the hand, lumbricales mu ...
arise from the arch, proceeding down on the second, third, and fourth
lumbrical muscles, respectively. They each receive a contribution from a
palmar metacarpal artery
The palmar metacarpal arteries (volar metacarpal arteries, palmar interosseous arteries) are three or four arteries that arise from the convexity of the deep palmar arch.
Structure
The palmar metacarpal arteries arise from the convexity of the ...
. Near the level of the
metacarpophalangeal joints, each common palmar digital artery divides into two
proper palmar digital arteries.
Four digital branches arise from this palmar arch that supplies the medial/ulnar 3 1/2 fingers.
See also
*
Deep palmar arch
The deep palmar arch (deep volar arch) is an arterial network found in the palm. It is usually primarily formed from the terminal part of the radial artery. The ulnar artery also contributes through an anastomosis. This is in contrast to the supe ...
*
Palmar carpal arch
*
Dorsal carpal arch
Additional images
File:Gray425.png, The palmar aponeurosis.
File:Gray527.png, The radial and ulnar arteries.
File:Slide15RRR.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arches
File:Slide7AAAA.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arche
File:Slide13AAAAA.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arche
File:Slide9HHHH.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arche
File:Slide9IIII.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arche
File:Slide6OOOO.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arche
File:Slide16OOOO.JPG, Superficial palmar arterial and venous arche
Footnotes and references
References
External links
*
* - "Palm of the hand, superficial dissection, anterior view"
Arteries of the upper limb
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