Anterior interosseous artery

Dr Daniel J Bell ◉ and Assoc Prof Craig Hacking ◉ ◈ et al.

The anterior interosseous artery is one of the two branches of the short common interosseous artery (from the ulnar artery). The artery courses deep in the anterior compartment of the forearm on the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane along with the anterior interosseous nerve (from the median nerve). It runs between flexor digitorum profundus (medially) and flexor pollicis longus (laterally) muscles supplying both. It gives off several small branches that pierce the interosseous membrane, supplying the deep extensor muscles within the posterior compartment of the forearm. Small nutrient vessels also supply the radius and ulna. At the upper border of pronator quadratus, the artery:

gives off a small branch to anastomose with the palmar carpal arch and,
pierces the interosseous membrane to enter the posterior compartment of the forearm and anastomoses with the posterior interosseous artery which continues distally to join the dorsal carpal arch.

References

Anatomy: Upper limb

Anatomy: Upper limb

skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
  - conoid tubercle
  - supraclavicular foramen
- scapula
- humerus
  - supracondylar spur
  - olecranon foramen
- radius
- ulna
- carpal bones (mnemonic)
  - scaphoid
    - bipartite scaphoid
  - lunate
    - lunate morphology
  - triquetrum
  - pisiform
  - trapezium
  - trapezoid
  - capitate
  - hamate
  - variants
    - carpal coalition
      - lunotriquetral coalition
      - capito-hamate coalition
- metacarpals
- phalanges
  - terminal tuft
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
  - accessory ossicles of the shoulder
    - os acromiale
  - accessory ossicles of the elbow
    - os supratrochleare dorsale
    - patella cubiti
  - accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
    - os centrale carpi
    - os epilunate
    - os styloideum
    - os hamuli proprium
    - lunula
    - os triangulare
    - trapezium secondarium
    - os paratrapezium
    - os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
joints of the upper limb
- shoulder joint
  - articulations
  - associated structures
    - joint capsule
    - bursae
      - subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursa
      - subscapular recess
      - subcoracoid bursa
      - coracoclavicular bursa
      - supra-acromial bursa
    - ligaments
      - coracoclavicular ligament
        
        conoid ligament
        
        trapezoid ligament
      - costoclavicular ligament
  - movements
    - scapulothoracic joint
      - scapular retraction (adduction)
      - scapular protraction (abduction)
      - scapular elevation
      - scapular depression
      - scapular lateral rotation
      - scapular medial rotation
    - glenohumeral joint
      - arm flexion
      - arm extension
      - arm abduction
      - arm adduction
      - arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
      - arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
      - circumduction
  - blood supply - scapular anastomosis
  - ossification centers
- elbow joint
  - proximal radioulnar joint
  - ligaments
    - medial (ulna) collateral ligament complex
    - lateral (radial) collateral ligament complex
  - associated structures
    - bicipitoradial bursa
    - olecranon bursa
  - movements
  - alignment
  - blood supply - elbow anastomosis
  - development
    - elbow ossification (mnemonic)
    - elbow ossification centers
- wrist joint
  - articulations
  - ligaments
    - intrinsic ligaments
    - extrinsic ligaments
  - associated structures
    - extensor retinaculum
    - flexor retinaculum
    - joint capsule
  - movements
  - alignment
    - carpal arcs
  - ossification
- hand joints
  - articulations
    - carpometacarpal joint
      - triscaphe joint
    - metacarpophalangeal joint
      - palmar ligament (plate)
      - collateral ligament
    - interphalangeal joint
      - palmar ligament (plate)
      - collateral ligament
  - movements
spaces of the upper limb
muscles of the upper limb
blood supply to the upper limb
- arteries
- veins
innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
- brachial plexus (mnemonic)
  - branches from the roots
  - branches from the trunks
    - suprascapular nerve
  - branches from the cords
    - lateral cord
      - lateral pectoral nerve
    - posterior cord
    - medial cord
  - terminal branches
    - ulnar nerve
    - radial nerve
      - posterior interosseous nerve (deep radial nerve)
      - superficial radial nerve
    - musculocutaneous nerve
    - axillary nerve
    - median nerve
      - anterior interosseous nerve
      - bifid median nerve
lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
- axillary lymph nodes

Article information

rID: 55401

System: Vascular

Section: Anatomy

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

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Cases and figures

Figure 1: arteries of the elbow (Gray's illustration)Figure 1: arteries of the elbow (Gray's illustration)

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