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.