Brachial artery

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The brachial artery is the major

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.^[1][3]

Structure

The brachial artery gives rise to the following branches:^[3]

• Profunda brachii artery
  (deep brachial artery)
• Superior ulnar collateral artery
• Inferior ulnar collateral artery
• Radial artery (a terminal branch)
• Ulnar artery (a terminal branch)
• Nutrient branches to the humerus

It also gives rise to 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.

Additional images

• 
  Cross-section through the middle of upper arm
• 
  The axillary artery and its branches
• 
  The radial and ulnar arteries
• 
  Ulnar and radial arteries; deep view
• 
  The deep veins of the upper extremity
• 
  The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front
• 
  Front of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones, arteries, and nerves
• 
  Deep dissection; anterior view
• 
  Deep dissection; anterior view
• 
  The brachial artery can be palpated midway along the medial side of the arm
• 
  A medical student using a sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure from the brachial artery's pulse.

See also

• Femoral artery, a leg-based artery with a similar function

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brachial arteries.

• Dissection at mvm.ed.ac.uk
• Image at umich.edu – pulse (archived 6 December 2006)
• lesson4arteriesofarm at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)