Anterior humeral circumflex artery
The anterior humeral circumflex artery is a vessel arising from the axillary artery at the proximal part of the arm. It is smaller in size relative to the posterior humeral circumflex artery.
Summary
- origin: branch of the axillary artery at the proximal part of the arm
- location: proximal arm
- supply: head of humerus, glenohumeral joint, teres major and minor, and deltoid 1
- main branches: ascending branch
- terminal branches: anastomoses with the posterior humeral circumflex artery 1
Gross anatomy
Origin
The anterior circumflex humeral artery arises laterally from the axillary artery at the proximal part of the arm and travels deep to the short head of the biceps brachii muscle and the coracobrachialis muscle 1.
Termination
The anterior circumflex humeral artery gives rise to an ascending branch. The main branch anastomoses with the posterior humeral circumflex artery 1.
Supply
The anterior circumflex humeral artery provides part of the blood supply to the glenohumeral joint, teres major and minor, and deltoid muscles. The ascending branch provides supply to the head of the humerus 1.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- carpal bones (mnemonic)
- metacarpals
- phalanges
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
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accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
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- lunula
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pectoral girdle
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shoulder joint
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- joint capsule
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movements
- scapulothoracic joint
- glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
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- circumduction
- blood supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
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shoulder joint
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elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
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- movements
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- blood supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
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wrist joint
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ligaments
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- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
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interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
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- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
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- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
- anterior compartment of the forearm
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posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- hand (mnemonic)
- accessory muscles
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arteries
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arteries
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