The brachial artery is the major
blood vessel of the (upper) arm. It is the continuation of the
axillary artery beyond the lower margin of
teres major muscle. It continues down the
ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the
cubital fossa at the
elbow. It then divides into the
radial and
ulnar arteries which run down the
forearm.
In some individuals, the bifurcation occurs much earlier and the ulnar and radial arteries extend through the upper arm. The
pulse of the brachial artery is
palpable on the anterior aspect of the elbow, medial to the
tendon of the
biceps
The biceps or biceps brachii ( la, musculus biceps brachii, "two-headed muscle of the arm") is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Both heads of the muscle arise on the scapula and join ...
, and, with the use of a
stethoscope
The stethoscope is a medical device for auscultation, or listening to internal sounds of an animal or human body. It typically has a small disc-shaped resonator that is placed against the skin, and one or two tubes connected to two earpieces. ...
and
sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff), often used to measure the
blood pressure
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. Most of this pressure results from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system. When used without qualification, the term "blood pressure" r ...
.
The brachial artery is closely related to the
median nerve; in proximal regions, the median nerve is immediately lateral to the brachial artery. Distally, the median nerve crosses the medial side of the brachial artery and lies anterior to the elbow joint.
Structure
The brachial artery gives rise to the following branches:
*
Profunda brachii artery (deep brachial artery)
*
Superior ulnar collateral artery
*
Inferior ulnar collateral artery
*
Radial artery (a terminal branch)
*
Ulnar artery (a terminal branch)
* Nutrient branches to the
humerus
The humerus (; ) is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections. The humeral upper extremity consists of a roun ...
It also gives rise to important anastomotic networks of the elbow and (as the axillary artery) the shoulder.
The biceps head is lateral to the brachial artery. The median nerve is medial to the brachial artery for most of its course.
Additional images
Image:Gray413_color.png, Cross-section through the middle of upper arm
Image:Gray523.png, The axillary artery and its branches
Image:Gray527.png, The radial and ulnar arteries
Image:Gray528.png, Ulnar and radial arteries; deep view
Image:Gray575.png, The deep veins of the upper extremity
Image:Gray809.png, The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front
Image:Gray1235.png, Front of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones, arteries, and nerves
File:Slide10che.JPG, Deep dissection; anterior view
File:Slide11che.JPG, Deep dissection; anterior view
File:Brantigan 1963 1-47.png, The brachial artery can be palpated midway along the medial side of the arm
See also
*
Femoral artery, a leg-based artery with a similar function
References
External links
Dissection at mvm.ed.ac.uk*
{{Authority control
Arteries of the upper limb