European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Upper limb injuries are the most frequent occupational accidents. Awareness of variations in the anatomy of brachial artery and its branches is important to avoid serious complications while treating the cases of arterio-venous fistulae, aneurysms and abscess drainage in the region of axilla, arm and cubital fossa.
Objectives: To study the origin, course and branching pattern of brachial artery.
Methods: The present study was undertaken on 54 upper limbs of both sexes from embalmed adult human cadavers from the Department of Anatomy, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna. The specimens were studied by detailed dissection method.
Results: In the present study, normal brachial artery was found in majority of specimens, superficial brachial artery alone in 1.9%, superficial and deep brachial artery in 11.1% and the brachioradial and superficial ulnar artery in 7.4% of specimens. The profunda brachii artery took origin from common trunk in 29.6% and superior ulnar collateral artery took origin from common trunk in 18.5% of specimens. In 9.3% of specimens inferior ulnar collateral artery took origin from superficial brachial artery. Trifurcation of brachial artery was found in 3.8% of specimens.
Conclusion: In the present study, 59.3% of specimens showed variations of brachial artery. Better anatomical knowledge about the branches of brachial artery and their variations are important for surgeons, physicians, radiologists and interventionists, because based on anatomical study, new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches can be proposed.