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Ulnar artery

Assoc Prof Craig Hacking ◉ ◈ and Dr Sachintha Hapugoda ◉ et al.

The ulnar artery is a terminal branch of the brachial artery, arising at the proximal aspect of the forearm. Along with the radial artery, it is one of the main arteries of the forearm.

Summary

origin: terminal branch of the brachial artery
location: inferior aspect of the cubital fossa
supply: elbow joint, medial and central forearm muscles, median and ulnar nerves, and common flexor sheath
main branches: anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries, common interosseous artery, palmar carpal arch, superficial palmar arch, and dorsal carpal branch

Gross anatomy

Origin

The ulnar artery arises as a large terminal branch of the brachial artery at the inferior aspect of the cubital fossa ¹.

Course

The ulnar artery courses along the ulnar aspect of the forearm deep to the flexor muscles. It then enters the hand after passing through the Guyon canal (ulnar canal) located between the pisiform and the hook of hamate. It then divides into its terminal branches at the carpal region of the hand ¹.

Branches

The main branches of the ulnar artery include the anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries, the common interosseous, the palmar carpal arch, the superficial palmar arch, and the dorsal carpal branch ¹.

Termination

The ulnar artery terminates at the hand via its branches; the palmar carpal arch, the superficial palmar arch, and the dorsal carpal branch ¹.

Supply

The ulnar artery supplies the periarticular anastomoses of the elbow via the anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries. It also supplies the medial and central forearm muscles, the median and ulnar nerves, and the common flexor sheath ¹.

Variant Anatomy

There may be a persistent median artery from the common or anterior interosseous arteries which accompanies the median nerve through the carpal tunnel.

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: 48482

System: Musculoskeletal, 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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Figure 2: anterior forearm deep anatomy (Gray's illustration)Figure 2: anterior forearm deep anatomy (Gray's illustration)

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Figure 3: anterior forearm anatomy (Gray's illustration)Figure 3: anterior forearm anatomy (Gray's illustration)

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Figure 4: cubital fossa (diagram)Figure 4: cubital fossa (diagram)

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