The radialis indicis artery (radial artery of index finger) is a branch of 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 ...

that provides blood to the

index finger The index finger (also referred to as forefinger, first finger, second finger, pointer finger, trigger finger, digitus secundus, digitus II, and many other terms) is the second digit of a human hand. It is located between the thumb and the m ...

. It arises close to the

princeps pollicis artery The princeps pollicis artery, or principal artery of the thumb, arises from the radial artery just as it turns medially towards the deep part of the hand; it descends between the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the oblique head of the adduct ...

, and descends between the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the transverse head of the

adductor pollicis In human anatomy, the adductor pollicis muscle is a muscle in the hand that functions to Adduction, adduct the thumb. It has two heads: transverse and oblique. It is a fleshy, flat, triangular, and fan-shaped muscle deep in the Thenar eminence, ...

, and runs along the lateral side of the index finger to its extremity, where it anastomoses with the proper digital artery, supplying the medial side of the finger. At the lower border of the transverse head of the

, this vessel anastomoses with the

princeps pollicis ''Princeps'' (plural: ''Principes'') is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, foremost, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first person". As a title, ''Princeps'' originated in the Roman Republic wherein the ...

, and gives a communicating branch to the

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 ...

. The princeps pollicis and radialis indicis may arise from a common trunk termed the first palmar metacarpal artery.

References

External links

* - "Anterior view of the arteries of the left hand." * ("Palm of the hand, deep dissection, anterior view") Arteries of the upper limb {{circulatory-stub