Radial artery
Encyclopedia
In human anatomy
, the radial artery is the main blood vessel
, with oxygenated blood
, of the lateral aspect of the forearm
.
in the cubital fossa
. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm. There, it serves as a landmark for the division between the anterior and posterior compartments of the forearm, with the posterior compartment beginning just lateral to the artery. The artery winds laterally around the wrist, passing through the anatomical snuff box
and between the heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle
. It passes anteriorly between the heads of the adductor pollicis, and becomes the deep palmar arch
, which joins with the deep branch of the ulnar artery
.
Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein
, the radial vein.
is palpable
in the anatomical snuff box
and on the anterior aspect of the arm over the carpal bones (where it is commonly used to assess the heart rate
and cardiac rhythm). Presence of radial pulse has been estimated to indicate a systolic blood pressure
of more than 70 mmHg, as estimated from the 50% percentile.
The radial artery is used for coronary artery bypass grafting and is growing in popularity among cardiac surgeons. Recently, it has been shown to have a superior peri-operative and post-operative course when compared to saphenous vein grafts.
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
, the radial artery is the main blood vessel
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...
, with oxygenated blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
, of the lateral aspect of the forearm
Forearm
-See also:*Forearm flexors*Forearm muscles...
.
Course
The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial arteryBrachial artery
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the 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...
in 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:...
. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm. There, it serves as a landmark for the division between the anterior and posterior compartments of the forearm, with the posterior compartment beginning just lateral to the artery. The artery winds laterally around the wrist, passing through the anatomical snuff box
Anatomical snuff box
The anatomical snuffbox is a triangular deepening on the radial, dorsal aspect of the hand—at the level of the carpal bones, specifically, the scaphoid and trapezium bones forming the floor...
and between the heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle
Dorsal interossei of the hand
The dorsal interossei of the hand are muscles that occupy the space between the metacarpals.-Structure:There are four dorsal interossei in each hand...
. It passes anteriorly between the heads of the adductor pollicis, and becomes the deep palmar arch
Deep palmar arch
The deep palmar arch is an arterial network found in the palm. It is usually formed mainly from the terminal part of the radial artery, with the ulnar artery contributing via its deep palmar branch...
, which joins with the deep branch of the ulnar artery
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...
.
Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein
Vein
In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood to the heart...
, the radial vein.
Branches
The named branches of the radial artery may be divided into three groups, corresponding with the three regions in which the vessel is situated.In the Forearm
- Radial recurrent arteryRadial recurrent arteryThe 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...
- arises just after the radial artery comes off the brachial artery. It travels superiorly to anastomose with the radial collateral arteryRadial collateral arteryThe 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....
around the elbow joint - Palmar carpal branch of radial arteryPalmar carpal branch of radial arteryThe palmar carpal branch of the radial artery is a small branch of the radial artery which arises near the lower border of the pronator quadratus, and, running across the front of the carpus, anastomoses with the palmar carpal branch of the ulnar artery....
- a small vessel which arises near the lower border of the pronator quadratus - Superficial palmar branch of the radial artery - arises from the radial artery, just where this vessel is about to wind around the lateral side of the wrist.
At the Wrist
- Dorsal carpal branch of radial artery - a small vessel which arises beneath the extensor tendons of the thumb
- First dorsal metacarpal artery - arises just before the radial artery passes between the two heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle and divides almost immediately into two branches which supply the adjacent sides of the thumb and index finger; the lateral side of the thumb receives a branch directly from the radial artery.
In the Hand
- Princeps pollicis arteryPrinceps pollicis arteryThe princeps pollicis arises from the radial artery just as it turns medially towards the deep part of the hand; it descends between the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the oblique head of the adductor pollicis, along the medial side of the first metacarpal bone to the base of the proximal...
- arises from the radial artery just as it turns medially to the deep part of the hand. - Radialis indicis - arises close to the princeps pollicis. The two arteries may arise from a common trunk, the first palmar metacarpal artery.
- Deep palmar archDeep palmar archThe deep palmar arch is an arterial network found in the palm. It is usually formed mainly from the terminal part of the radial artery, with the ulnar artery contributing via its deep palmar branch...
- terminal part of radial artery.
Clinical significance
The artery's pulsePulse
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...
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...
in the anatomical snuff box
Anatomical snuff box
The anatomical snuffbox is a triangular deepening on the radial, dorsal aspect of the hand—at the level of the carpal bones, specifically, the scaphoid and trapezium bones forming the floor...
and on the anterior aspect of the arm over the carpal bones (where it is commonly used to assess the heart rate
Heart rate
Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per unit of time, typically expressed as beats per minute . Heart rate can vary as the body's need to absorb oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide changes, such as during exercise or sleep....
and cardiac rhythm). Presence of radial pulse has been estimated to indicate a systolic 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...
of more than 70 mmHg, as estimated from the 50% percentile.
The radial artery is used for coronary artery bypass grafting and is growing in popularity among cardiac surgeons. Recently, it has been shown to have a superior peri-operative and post-operative course when compared to saphenous vein grafts.
External links
- Image at umich.edu - pulse
- Radial artery puncture - medicalstudents.com