Posterior humeral circumflex artery
Last revised by Reuben Schmidt ◉
on 28 Mar 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hapugoda S, Schmidt R, Koppen J, et al. Posterior humeral circumflex artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-47122
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rID:
47122
Article created:
1 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:
28 Mar 2021,
Reuben Schmidt ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Reuben Schmidt had no recorded disclosures.
View Reuben Schmidt's current disclosures
Revisions:
10 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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The posterior humeral circumflex artery is a vessel arising from the axillary artery at the proximal part of the arm.
Summary
- origin: branch of the axillary artery at the proximal part of the arm 1
- location: proximal arm
- supply: glenohumeral joint, teres major and minor, and deltoid 1
- main branches: anterior humeral circumflex artery and ascending branch of the deep artery of the arm via the posterior branch (anastamoses) 1
- terminal branches: anastomoses with the anterior humeral circumflex artery and the ascending branch of the deep artery of the arm (profunda brachii artery) 1
Gross anatomy
Origin
The posterior circumflex humeral artery arises medially from the axillary artery at the proximal part of the arm. It arises specifically from the third part of the axillary artery. It then immediately travels posteriorly and circles the surgical neck of the humerus via the quadrangular space 1.
Termination
The posterior circumflex humeral artery gives rise to a posterior branch which travels distally to anastamose with the ascending branch of the deep artery of the arm (profunda brachii artery). The main branch anastamoses with the anterior circumflex humeral artery 1.
Supply
The posterior circumflex humeral artery provides part of the blood supply to the glenohumeral joint, teres major and minor, and deltoid muscles 1.
References
- 1. Dalley AF, Agur AM. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, Sixth Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1605476528. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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