Superficial Radial Artery – A Case Report

Arterial variations in the arm are of potential clinical implications as it is a frequent site of injury and also involved in many surgical and invasive procedures. Variations in the vascular system of upper limbs are relatively common, and occur at the level of the axillary, brachial, radial, and ulnar arteries as well as in the palmar arches. During a dissection of the right upper extremity, an abnormal high origin of the radial artery was found. A high radial branch from the brachial artery was found in a middle aged male during routine dissection course. The brachial artery and its branches were dissected carefully and the anomaly was documented with a photograph. Usually the axillary artery continues as brachial artery beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle and the brachial artery terminates in the cubital fossa by dividing into the ulnar and the radial arteries. Accurate knowledge of these variation patterns is of considerable clinical importance in the conduct of reparative surgeries around the shoulder and fracture management of the humerus. This high origin of radial artery and the abnormal course of the radial artery is of interest to clinicians; in particular vascular and plastic surgeons and radiologists.