The dorsal carpal arch (dorsal carpal network, posterior carpal arch) is an anatomical term for the combination (
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 ...
) of
dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery
The dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery (posterior radial carpal artery) is a small vessel which arises beneath the extensor tendons of the thumb; crossing the carpus transversely toward the medial border of the hand, it anastomoses with the ...
and the
dorsal carpal branch of the ulnar artery
The dorsal carpal branch of the ulnar artery arises from the ulnar artery immediately above the pisiform bone, and winds backward beneath the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris; it passes across the dorsal surface of the carpus beneath the extensor ...
near the back of the
wrist
In human anatomy, the wrist is variously defined as (1) the Carpal bones, carpus or carpal bones, the complex of eight bones forming the proximal skeletal segment of the hand; "The wrist contains eight bones, roughly aligned in two rows, known ...
.
It is made up of the dorsal carpal branches of both the ulnar and radial arteries. It also anastomoses with the
anterior interosseous artery
The anterior interosseous artery (volar interosseous artery) is an artery in the forearm. It is a branch of the common interosseous artery.
Course
It passes down the forearm on the palmar surface of the interosseous membrane.
It is accompanied ...
and the
posterior interosseous artery
The posterior interosseous artery (dorsal interosseous artery) is an artery of the forearm. It is a branch of the common interosseous artery, which is a branch of the ulnar artery.
Structure
The posterior interosseous artery passes backward betw ...
. The arch gives off three
dorsal metacarpal arteries
Most of the dorsal metacarpal arteries arise from the dorsal carpal arch and run downward on the second, third, and fourth dorsal interossei of the hand and bifurcate into the dorsal digital arteries. Near their origin, they anastomose with the ...
.
See also
*
Palmar carpal arch
The palmar carpal arch is the combination ( anastomosis) of two arteries: the Palmar carpal branch of radial artery and the palmar carpal branch of ulnar artery.
This anastomosis is joined by a branch from the anterior interosseous artery abov ...
*
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 ...
*
Superficial palmar arch
The superficial palmar arch is formed predominantly by the ulnar artery, with a contribution from the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery. However, in some individuals the contribution from the radial artery might be absent, and instea ...
References
External links
Arteries of the upper limb
{{circulatory-stub