Blood Vessels of Upper Limb

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart, round due to thick wall, branching

Walls of the arteries

Tunica adventitia, tunica media and tunica interna

Veins

Return blood to the heart, thin walled to expand and accommodate increased venous return, have valves

Walls of the veins

Tunica adventitia and tunica interna

Pattern of blood flow

Aorta, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, gas exchange occurs, venule, small vein, large vein, inferior vena cava

Superficial neurovascular bundles

Located superficial to deep fascia - superficial vein, cutaneous vein, lymph vessels

Deep neurovascular bundles

Located deep to deep fascia - artery, vein, nerve, lymph vessels

Anastomosis

Joining of vessels end to end to allow for a continuous collateral circulation, common at joints due to movement and constructions of vessels

Main arterial trunks

Aorta and three branches = brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian artery

Main venous trunks

Left and right subclavian veins to brachiocephalic veins and return to superior vena cava

Subclavian artery

Continuation of brachiocephalic trunk on right or aortic arch on left, changes name to axillary artery at lateral border of the first rib

Axillary artery

Enters axilla, supplies lateral thorax, axilla and upper limb, changes name to brachial artery after inferior border of teres major

Brachial artery

travels in medial arm of anterior compartment, gives off profunda brachii artery that does posterior arm, supplies upper arm and elbow, divides into radial and ulnar artery at cubital fossa

Radial and ulnar arteries

Supplies forearm muscles - radial does lateral and ulnar does medial

Superficial palmar arch

From radial and ulnar arteries but mainly ulnar, supplies hand and fingers

Deep palmar arch

From radial and ulnar arteries but mainly radial, supplies deep hand

Drain pattern of veins

Dorsal venous arch, deep and superficial venous palmar arch, radial and ulnar veins, brachial vein, axillary vein, subclavian vein, brachiocephalic vein

Dorsal venous arch in hand

Cephalic vein laterally, basilic vein medially, median cubital links both at cubital fossa

Basilic vein

Drains deep into brachial vein at midpoint of arm

Cephalic vein

Drains into axillary vein