Anterior humeral circumflex artery

Last revised by Sachi Hapugoda on 9 Oct 2017

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Hapugoda S, Hacking C, Murphy A, et al. Anterior humeral circumflex artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-47160

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-47160

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/47160

rID:

47160

Article created:

2 Aug 2016, Sachi Hapugoda ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Sachi Hapugoda had no recorded disclosures.

View Sachi Hapugoda's current disclosures

Last revised:

9 Oct 2017, Sachi Hapugoda ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Sachi Hapugoda had no recorded disclosures.

View Sachi Hapugoda's current disclosures

Revisions:

7 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

refs

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.