Upper Limb Arterial, Venous, and Nerve Supply

Vocabulary flashcards covering arteries, veins, and nerves of the upper limb.

Brachial Artery

Continuation of the axillary artery after the inferior border of teres major; supplies the anterior compartment of the arm and divides into radial and ulnar arteries at the cubital fossa.

Deep Brachial Artery (Profunda Brachii)

Branch of the brachial artery that travels with the radial nerve in the radial groove; supplies the posterior compartment of the arm.

Superior Ulnar Collateral Artery

Branch of the brachial artery that accompanies the ulnar nerve posterior to the medial epicondyle and anastomoses with the posterior ulnar recurrent artery.

Inferior Ulnar Collateral Artery

Branch of the brachial artery anterior to the medial epicondyle that anastomoses with the anterior ulnar recurrent artery.

Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery

Branch of the 3rd part of the axillary artery; passes through the quadrangular space with the axillary nerve; supplies the deltoid and shoulder joint.

Anterior Circumflex Humeral Artery

Smaller branch of the 3rd part of the axillary artery that supplies the shoulder joint.

Subscapular Artery

Largest branch of the axillary artery; gives rise to the circumflex scapular and thoracodorsal arteries.

Suprascapular Artery

Branch of the thyrocervical trunk; crosses over the superior transverse scapular ligament to supply supraspinatus and infraspinatus.

Circumflex Scapular Artery

Branch of the subscapular artery that passes through the triangular space; supplies infraspinatus and teres major/minor.

Thoracodorsal Artery

Branch of the subscapular artery that supplies latissimus dorsi.

Lateral Thoracic Artery

Branch of the axillary artery that supplies serratus anterior, pectoral muscles, and the mammary gland.

Thoracoacromial Artery

Branch of the axillary artery that supplies the pectoral region, clavicle, acromion, and deltoid.

Cephalic Vein

Superficial vein along the lateral arm that drains into the axillary vein via the deltopectoral groove.

Basilic Vein

Superficial vein along the medial arm that joins the brachial veins to form the axillary vein.

Median Cubital Vein

Vein in the cubital fossa connecting the cephalic and basilic veins; common site for venipuncture.

Axillary Vein

Formed by the union of the basilic vein and brachial veins; becomes the subclavian vein at the lateral border of the first rib.

Brachial Veins

Paired deep veins that accompany the brachial artery and drain into the axillary vein.

Venae Comitantes

Paired veins that accompany deep arteries in limb compartments.

Musculocutaneous Nerve

C5–C7; pierces coracobrachialis; innervates the anterior compartment of the arm (biceps brachii, brachialis, coracobrachialis) and continues as the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

Radial Nerve

C5–T1; runs with the deep brachial artery in the radial groove; innervates the posterior compartment of the arm (triceps brachii, anconeus) and forearm extensors.

Median Nerve

C5–T1; travels with the brachial artery; has no motor function in the arm but innervates most anterior forearm muscles and thenar muscles.

Ulnar Nerve

C8–T1; travels with the superior ulnar collateral artery; innervates flexor carpi ulnaris, the medial half of flexor digitorum profundus, and most intrinsic hand muscles.

Axillary Nerve

C5–C6; passes through the quadrangular space with the posterior circumflex humeral artery; innervates the deltoid and teres minor.

Suprascapular Nerve

C5–C6; passes beneath the superior transverse scapular ligament; innervates supraspinatus and infraspinatus.

Long Thoracic Nerve

C5–C7; innervates serratus anterior.

Upper Subscapular Nerve

C5–C6; innervates subscapularis.

Lower Subscapular Nerve

C5–C6; innervates subscapularis and teres major.

Thoracodorsal Nerve

C6–C8; innervates latissimus dorsi.

Medial Pectoral Nerve

C8–T1; innervates pectoralis minor and pectoralis major.

Lateral Pectoral Nerve

C5–C7; innervates pectoralis major.