Variations in the arterial pattern of the upper limb have been observed frequently, either in the routine dissections or in clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to describe the anatomical, surgical and embryological importance of major arteries of upper limbs of human beings. The present article is the report of low division and trifurcation of brachial artery and abnormal course of radial artery (passing deep to the pronator teres muscle) found in a 45-year-old embalmed male cadaver. Knowledge of the arterial variations in the upper limb is of considerable importance during invasive and non-invasive investigative procedures or orthopedic, reconstructive, or surgical procedures.
In this paper, an unusual origin of the radial collateral artery of the arm is reported. The radial collateral artery in one of the cadavers dissected by us originated from the posterior circumflex humeral artery. The importance of this abnormal origin of the radial collateral artery from the posterior circumflex humeral artery in quadrangular space syndrome is discussed.
The arterial and muscular variations of the upper limbs are common but important with regard to surgical approaches. Even though anomalies of the coracobrachialis muscle are rare, anatomical variations of the biceps brachii, existence of the accessory muscles in the forearm and persistent median artery are known and well documented. During routine dissection, we observed some important anatomical variations in a 50-year-old male cadaver. The variations were unilateral. The anomalies were: third head for biceps brachii muscle, an accessory belly for coracobrachialis muscle crossing the median nerve and brachial vessels and continuing with the medial head of triceps brachii muscle to be inserted to the olecranon process (coracoulnaris), a persistent median artery and an additional muscle in the anterior compartment of forearm. Although there are individual reports about these variations, the combination of these variations in one cadaver has not previously been described in the literature. Awareness of these variations is necessary to avoid complications during radiodiagnostic procedures or surgeries in the upper limb.
During routine dissection classes to undergraduate medical students, we have observed some important anatomic variations in the right upper limb of a 45-year-old cadaver. The anomalies were superficial ulnar artery, persistent median artery, variant superficial palmar arch, third head for biceps brachii, accessory head for flexor pollicis longus, variant insertion of pectoralis major, absence of musculocutaneous nerve, coracobrachialis muscle supplied by lateral root of median nerve and anomalous branching of median nerve in arm and forearm. Although there are individual reports about these variations, the combination of these variations in one cadaver has not previously been described in the literature consulted. Awareness of these variations is necessary to avoid complications during radiodiagnostic procedures or surgeries in the upper limb.
In this article, we describe anomalous formation, distribution of superficial palmar arch and an arterial circle at the base of the thumb found during routine dissection classes in the right hand of a 45-year-old male cadaver. These variations are unique and provide significant information to surgeons dissecting the hand region.