Brachial artery
Encyclopedia
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel
of the (upper) arm.
It is the continuation of the axillary artery
beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle
. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa
at the elbow. It then divides into the radial
and ulnar
arteries
which run down the forearm
. In some individuals, the bifurcation occurs much earlier and the ulnar and radial arteries extend through the upper arm.
The pulse
of the brachial artery is palpable
on the anterior aspect of the elbow, medial to the tendon
of the biceps
, and, with the use of a stethoscope
and sphygmomanometer
(blood pressure cuff) often used to measure the blood pressure
.
The brachial artery is closely related to the median nerve
; in proximal regions, the median nerve is immediately lateral to the brachial artery. Distally, the median nerve crosses the medial side of the brachial artery and lies anterior to the elbow joint.
as well as important anastomotic networks of the elbow and (as the axillary artery) the shoulder.
The biceps head is lateral to the brachial artery. The median nerve is medial to the brachial artery for most of its course.
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
of the (upper) arm.
It is the continuation of the axillary artery
Axillary artery
In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla and the upper limb...
beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle
Teres major muscle
The teres major muscle is a muscle of the upper limb and one of six scapulohumeral muscles. It is a thick but somewhat flattened muscle, innervated by the lower subscapular nerve .-Origin and insertion:...
. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa
Cubital fossa
The cubital fossa is the triangular area on the anterior view of the elbow of a human or other hominid animal. It is colloquially known as the "elbow pit".-Boundaries:...
at the elbow. It then divides into the radial
Radial artery
In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm.-Course:The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm...
and ulnar
Ulnar artery
The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial artery...
arteries
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
which run down the forearm
Forearm
-See also:*Forearm flexors*Forearm muscles...
. In some individuals, the bifurcation occurs much earlier and the ulnar and radial arteries extend through the upper arm.
The pulse
Pulse
In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...
of the brachial artery is palpable
Palpation
Palpation is used as part of a physical examination in which an object is felt to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location...
on the anterior aspect of the elbow, medial to the tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
of the biceps
Biceps brachii muscle
In human anatomy, the biceps brachii, or simply biceps in common parlance, is, as the name implies, a two-headed muscle located on the upper arm. Both heads arise on the scapula and join to form a single muscle belly which is attached to the upper forearm...
, and, with the use of a stethoscope
Stethoscope
The stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal body. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds. It is also used to listen to intestines and blood flow in arteries and veins...
and sphygmomanometer
Sphygmomanometer
A sphygmomanometer or blood pressure meter is a device used to measure blood pressure, comprising an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, and a mercury or mechanical manometer to measure the pressure. It is always used in conjunction with a means to determine at what pressure blood flow is just...
(blood pressure cuff) often used to measure the blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
.
The brachial artery is closely related to the median nerve
Median nerve
The median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals. It is in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus....
; in proximal regions, the median nerve is immediately lateral to the brachial artery. Distally, the median nerve crosses the medial side of the brachial artery and lies anterior to the elbow joint.
Branches
- Profunda brachii artery (deep brachial artery)
- Superior ulnar collateral arterySuperior ulnar collateral arteryThe superior ulnar collateral artery , of small size, arises from the brachial a little below the middle of the arm; it frequently springs from the upper part of the a...
- Inferior ulnar collateral arteryInferior ulnar collateral arteryThe inferior ulnar collateral artery arises about 5 cm. above the elbow.-Course:It passes medialward upon the Brachialis, and piercing the medial intermuscular septum, winds around the back of the humerus between the Triceps brachii and the bone, forming, by its junction with the profunda brachii,...
- Radial arteryRadial arteryIn human anatomy, the radial artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm.-Course:The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm...
(a terminal branch) - Ulnar arteryUlnar arteryThe ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial artery...
(a terminal branch) - Nutrient branches to the humerusHumerusThe humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....
as well as important anastomotic networks of the elbow and (as the axillary artery) the shoulder.
The biceps head is lateral to the brachial artery. The median nerve is medial to the brachial artery for most of its course.