The arteria profunda brachii (also known as deep artery of the arm and the deep brachial artery) is a large vessel which arises from the lateral and posterior part of the brachial

Brachial

Brachial means "pertaining to the arm," and may refer to:*Brachial artery, in anatomy*Brachial valve, the upper valve in Brachiopods...

 artery, just below the lower border of the Teres major.

Course

It follows closely the radial nerve

Radial nerve

The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the upper limb. It supplies the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii muscle of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm and the associated joints and overlying skin.It...

, running at first backward between the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii, then along the groove for the radial nerve

Radial nerve

The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the upper limb. It supplies the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii muscle of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm and the associated joints and overlying skin.It...

 (the radial sulcus

Radial sulcus

The radial sulcus is a broad but shallow oblique depression for the radial nerve and deep brachial artery. It is located on the center of the lateral border of the humerus bone....

), where it is covered by the lateral head of the triceps brachii, to the lateral side of the arm; there it pierces the lateral intermuscular septum

Lateral intermuscular septum

The lateral intermuscular septum extends from the lower part of the crest of the greater tubercle of the humerus, along the lateral supracondylar ridge, to the lateral epicondyle; it is blended with the tendon of the Deltoideus, gives attachment to the Triceps brachii behind, to the Brachialis,...

, and, descending between the brachioradialis

Brachioradialis

Brachioradialis is a muscle of the forearm that acts to flex the forearm at the elbow. It is also capable of both pronation and supination, depending on the position of the forearm...

 and the brachialis to the front of the lateral epicondyle

Lateral epicondyle

Lateral epicondyle can refer to:* Lateral epicondyle of the humerus * Lateral epicondyle of the femur...

 of the humerus

Humerus

The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....

, ends by anastomosing with the radial recurrent artery

Radial recurrent artery

The radial recurrent artery arises from the radial artery immediately below the elbow.It ascends between the branches of the radial nerve, lying on the Supinator and then between the Brachioradialis and Brachialis, supplying these muscles and the elbow-joint, and anastomosing with the terminal part...

.

Branches and anastomoses

It gives branches to the deltoid muscle

Deltoid muscle

In human anatomy, the deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the shoulder. Anatomically, it appears to be made up of three distinct sets of fibers though electromyography suggests that it consists of at least seven groups that can be independently coordinated by the central...

 (which, however, primarily is supplied by the posterior circumflex humeral artery) and to the muscles between which it lies; it supplies an occasional nutrient artery

Nutrient artery

The medullary or nutrient artery, usually accompanied by one or two veins, sends branches upward and downward to the bone marrow, which ramify in the medullary membrane, and give twigs to the adjoining canals. Nutrient Arteries are the most apparent blood vessels of the bones....

 which enters the humerus

Humerus

The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....

 behind the deltoid tuberosity.

A branch ascends between the long and lateral heads of the triceps brachii to anastomose with the posterior humeral circumflex artery

Posterior humeral circumflex artery

The posterior humeral circumflex artery arises from the axillary artery at the lower border of the subscapularis, and runs posteriorally with the axillary nerve through the quadrangular space.It winds around the neck of the humerus and is distributed to the Deltoid muscle and shoulder-joint,...

; the medial collateral artery

Medial collateral artery

The medial collateral artery is a branch of deep brachial artery. It anastomoses with the interosseous recurrent artery near the elbow.-See also:* radial collateral artery* superior ulnar collateral artery...

, a branch, descends in the middle head of the triceps brachii and assists in forming the anastomosis above the olecranon; and, lastly, a radial collateral artery

Radial collateral artery

The radial collateral artery is a branch of the deep brachial artery. It arises in the arm proper and anastomoses with the radial recurrent artery near the elbow....

 runs down behind the lateral intermuscular septum

Lateral intermuscular septum

The lateral intermuscular septum extends from the lower part of the crest of the greater tubercle of the humerus, along the lateral supracondylar ridge, to the lateral epicondyle; it is blended with the tendon of the Deltoideus, gives attachment to the Triceps brachii behind, to the Brachialis,...

 to the back of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, where it anastomoses with the interosseous recurrent and the inferior ulnar collateral arteries.