The median artery is an

artery An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pul ...

that is occasionally found in humans and other animals. The prevalence was around 10% in people born in the mid-1880s compared to 30% in those born in the late 20th century, and 35% of people born as of 2020; a significant increase in a fairly short period of time, when it comes to evolution. When the median artery prevalence reaches 50% or more, it should not be considered as a variant, but as a ‘normal’ human structure. "This increase could have resulted from mutations of genes involved in median artery development or health problems in mothers during pregnancy, or both. If this trend continues, a majority of people will have median artery of the forearm by 2100." When present, it is found in the

forearm The forearm is the region of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist. The term forearm is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm, a word which is most often used to describe the entire appendage of the upper limb, but which in anat ...

, between the

radial artery In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main artery of the lateral aspect of the forearm. Structure The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the f ...

and

ulnar artery The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspects of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial ar ...

. It runs with the

median nerve The median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus. The median nerve originates from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus, and has contr ...

and supplies the same structures as that nerve. It may be unilateral or bilateral. It passes deep to the flexor retinaculum and may terminate at one or more of the palmar arches. In a deep wrist laceration, such as from a suicide attempt, the median artery may be incised, risking exsanguination. An individual who does not have a median artery appears to suffer no ill effects.

References

External links

* Rodríguez-Niedenführ, M., et al. "Median artery revisited." Journal of anatomy 195.01 (1999): 57-63. {{Authority control Arteries of the upper limb Anatomical variations