Ulnar Artery Anatomy

Describe Ulnar Artery Under The Following Heads

1. Ulnar Artery Origin,
2. Ulnar Artery Course and relations,
3. Ulnar Artery Branches, and
4. Ulnar Artery Applied anatomy.

Answer:

Ulnar Artery Introduction:

It is the artery of the medial side of the forearm.

1. Ulnar Artery Origin:

This larger terminal branch of the brachial artery arises 1 cm below the bend of the elbow.

2. Ulnar Artery Course and relations:

1. Peculiarities: It is accompanied by

1. Venae commitantes, and
2. The ulnar nerve in the distal 2/3rd of the forearm.

2. Extent: It extends from the elbow to the wrist joint.

Anterior Forearm Muscles

Ulnar Artery Termination: The Ulnar artery forms the superficial palmar arch in the hand.

Ulnar Artery Course: It passes downward, medially.

1. It leaves the cubital fossa deep to the ulnar head of the pronator teres.
2. It lies between two nerves, laterally the median and medially the ulnar nerve.

Anterior Forearm Muscles

Relations

Anterior

1. Upper half

Muscles

1. Pronator teres,
2. Flexor carpi radialis,
3. Flexor digitorum superficialis, and
4. Palmaris longus

Nerve: Median nerve

Lower half

1. Skin
2. Superficial fascia

2. Posterior

Anterior relations of the ulnar artery in the upper and lower 1/2 of the forearm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Flexor digitorum profundus, and

2. Pronator quadratus.

Lateral: Flexor digitorum superficialis.

Medial: Flexor carpi ulnaris and ulnar nerve.

Anterior Forearm Muscles

1. Branches :

1. Muscular branch to all the superficial group of muscles on the medial side of forearm and hand

2. Cutaneous

3. Articular branch to

1. Elbow, and
2. Wrist joint.

4. Branches to nerves

1. Ulnar, and
2. Median.

5. Nutrient arteries to

1. Radius, and
2. Ulna.

6. Communicating branches to

1. Anterior,
2. Posterior carpal arch, and c. Superficial palmar arch.

7. Terminates as

1. Superficial palmar arch, and
2. Branch to the synovial sheath.

Muscles Of Anterior Forearm

2. Ulnar Artery Applied anatomy:

It is felt lateral to the flexor carpi ulnaris and above the pisiform bone.

Note: For easy recalling remember the digit ‘2′

1. One of 2 terminal branches of the brachial artery.

2. Extends between 2 joints, namely elbow and wrist joint, i.e. neck (of radius) to head (of ulna).

3. Passes between 2 nerves:

1. Median, and
2. Ulnar.

Muscles Of Anterior Forearm

4. Relations with 2 groups of muscles

1. Superficial, and
2. Deep.

5. Lies on 2 muscles

1. Brachialis, and
2. Flexor digitorum profundus.

6. Anterior Forearm Branches: Mnemonic for branches of the ulnar artery is.(“BRANCHES“)

Branches to

2 Bones: Radius, and ulna.
2 Recurrent: Anterior ulnar recurrent, and posterior ulnar recurrent.
2 Articular to: Elbow joint, and wrist joint.
2 Nerves: Ulnar, and median.
2 Carpal bones: Anterior, and posterior carpal.
2 Branches to Hand: Superficial palmar arch and deep palmar arch.
2 Interosseous membrane: Anterior interosseous and posterior interosseous artery
2 groups of muscles: Superficial, and deep.

Muscles Of Anterior Forearm