Superficial ulnar artery terminating in a normal ulnar artery

Routine dissection of the left upper limb of an 86-year-old male cadaver showed a superficial ulnar artery that anastomosed with the ulnar artery. The superficial ulnar artery arose from the third part of the axillary artery, coursed distally over the flexor muscles of the forearm, and terminated by anastomosing with the ulnar artery in the distal third of the forearm. Arterial and neural variations were also observed on the contralateral side. The presence of a superficial ulnar artery is important clinically when raising forearm flaps in reconstructive surgery.