open access
Superficial brachioulnar artery in man
, 1, 12
Affiliations- Department of Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Medical Faculty, Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, Elblag, Poland
open access
Abstract
The individual arterial pattern of the upper limb is considerably variable (11–24%)
and relevant for intraarterial interventions performed by cardiologists, plastic
and vascular surgeons, radiologists, anaesthesiologists, transplant specialists,
orthopaedists and neurosurgeons. Arterial variants in the upper limb result from
modifications in the maintenance and regression of the initial capillary plexus,
which forms dominant arterial channels and gradually expands into the growing
upper limb bud between stages 12 and 21. In this case report we present the
superficial brachioulnar artery with its external diameter of 3 mm and length
of 525 mm, and of relevant course in the left upper limb of a 78-year-old male
Caucasian formalin-fixed cadaver. The superficial brachioulnar artery unusually
started with the superior part of axillary artery, presented the following five parts:
axillary, brachial, cubital, antebrachial and palmar, and was finally continuous with
the superficial palmar arch. The typical ulnar artery was somewhat hypoplastic
and limited to the forearm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report
in the professional literature to describe the start of the superficial brachioulnar
artery with the superior part of axillary artery. We conclude the individual arterial
pattern of the upper limb to be indispensably recognised preoperatively, so as
to circumvent any unwanted injuries to the superficial brachioulnar artery that
is considerably large, overlies the antebrachial fascia and supplies the superficial
palmar arch.
Abstract
The individual arterial pattern of the upper limb is considerably variable (11–24%)
and relevant for intraarterial interventions performed by cardiologists, plastic
and vascular surgeons, radiologists, anaesthesiologists, transplant specialists,
orthopaedists and neurosurgeons. Arterial variants in the upper limb result from
modifications in the maintenance and regression of the initial capillary plexus,
which forms dominant arterial channels and gradually expands into the growing
upper limb bud between stages 12 and 21. In this case report we present the
superficial brachioulnar artery with its external diameter of 3 mm and length
of 525 mm, and of relevant course in the left upper limb of a 78-year-old male
Caucasian formalin-fixed cadaver. The superficial brachioulnar artery unusually
started with the superior part of axillary artery, presented the following five parts:
axillary, brachial, cubital, antebrachial and palmar, and was finally continuous with
the superficial palmar arch. The typical ulnar artery was somewhat hypoplastic
and limited to the forearm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report
in the professional literature to describe the start of the superficial brachioulnar
artery with the superior part of axillary artery. We conclude the individual arterial
pattern of the upper limb to be indispensably recognised preoperatively, so as
to circumvent any unwanted injuries to the superficial brachioulnar artery that
is considerably large, overlies the antebrachial fascia and supplies the superficial
palmar arch.
Keywords
superficial brachioulnar artery, superficial ulnar artery, axial artery, arterial variants, variant origin of ulnar artery, upper limb, Rodriguez-Niedenführ classification
About this articleTitle
Superficial brachioulnar artery in man
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
936-942
Published online
2023-09-29
Page views
734
Article views/downloads
351
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2023;82(4):936-942.
Keywords
superficial brachioulnar artery
superficial ulnar artery
axial artery
arterial variants
variant origin of ulnar artery
upper limb
Rodriguez-Niedenführ classification
Authors
P. Flisiński
M. Badura
M. Szpinda
References (31)- Aharinejad S, Nourani F, Hollensteiner H. Rare case of high origin of the ulnar artery from the brachial artery. Clin Anat. 1997; 10(4): 253–258, doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(1997)10:4<253::aid-ca7>3.0.co;2-t.
- Clarke E, Mazurek A, Radek M, et al. Superficial brachial artery – a case report with commentaries on the classification. Trans Res Anat. 2021; 23: 100112.
- Clarke E, Skrzat J, Mazur M, et al. Anatomical variations of the superficial ulnar artery: case series observed on historical specimens prepared by Ludwik Karol Teichmann. Folia Morphol. 2022; 81(1): 227–233.
- Clarke E, Skrzat J, Tubbs RS, et al. Rare origin of the brachioradial artery - a case found on a historical specimen prepared by Ludwik Karol Teichmann. Trans Res Anat. 2021; 23: 100109.
- Devansh . Superficial ulnar artery flap. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1996; 97(2): 420–426.
- Fadel RA, Amonoo-Kuofi HS. The superficial ulnar artery: development and surgical significance. Clin Anat. 1996; 9(2): 128–132, doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(1996)9:2<128::aid-ca5>3.0.co;2-d.
- Frunze S, Grochowiecki T, Ciąćka T, et al. The importance of the superficial brachioulnar artery during surgical creation of an arteriovenous fistula for dialysis from a transposed basilic vein – potential implications for hand ischemia in case of a previously thrombosed radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula. Polish Surgery. 2011; 13(2): 166–170.
- Funk GF, Valentino J, McCulloch TM, et al. Anomalies of forearm vascular anatomy encountered during elevation of the radial forearm flap. Head Neck. 1995; 17(4): 284–292.
- Görmüs G, Özçelik M, Çelik H, et al. Variant origin of the ulnar artery. Clin Anat. 1998; 11(1): 62–64, doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(1998)11:1<62::aid-ca11>3.0.co;2-l.
- Gupta G, Singh K, Chhabra S, et al. Bilateral superficial ulnar artery with high origin from the axillary artery: its anatomy and clinical significance. Folia Morphol. 2012; 71(1): 48–51.
- Jacquemin G, Lemaire V, Medot M, et al. Bilateral case of superficial ulnar artery originating from axillary artery. Surg Radiol Anat. 2001; 23(2): 139–143.
- Kinnaert P. Relevance of the ulnaris fistula as a dialysis shunt. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1995; 10(12): 2379.
- Konarik M, Knize J, Baca V, et al. Superficial Brachioradial Artery (Radial Artery Originating from the Axillary Artery): A Case-Report and Its Embryological Background. Folia Morphol. 2009; 68(3): 174–178.
- Mannan A, Sarikcioglu L, Ghani S, et al. Superficial ulnar artery terminating in a normal ulnar artery. Clin Anat. 2005; 18(8): 602–605.
- McWilliams RG, Sodha I. Doppler ultrasound diagnosis of a superficial ulnar artery. Eur J Ultrasound. 2000; 12(2): 155–157.
- Nakatani T, Tanaka S, Mizukami S, et al. The superficial ulnar artery originating from the axillary artery. Ann Anat. 1996; 178(3): 277–279.
- Nakatani T, Tanaka S, Mizukami S. Superficial ulnar artery originating from the brachial artery and its clinical importance. Surg Radiol Anat. 1998; 20(5): 383–385.
- Natsis K, Papadopoulou AL, Paraskevas G, et al. High origin of a superficial ulnar artery arising from the axillary artery: anatomy, embryology, clinical significance and a review of the literature. Folia Morphol. 2006; 65(4): 400–405.
- Panagouli E, Tsaraklis A, Gazouli I, et al. A rare variation of the axillary artery combined contralaterally with an unusual high origin of a superficial ulnar artery: description, review of the literature and embryological analysis. Ital J Anat Embryol. 2009; 114(4): 145–156.
- Poteat WL. Report of a rare human variation: absence of the radial artery. Anat Rec. 1986; 214(1): 89–95.
- Ramani CV, Kundagulwar GK, Prabha YS, et al. Anomalous superficial ulnar artery based flap. Indian J Plast Surg. 2014; 47(1): 124–126.
- Rodriguez-Baeza A, Nebot J, Ferreira B, et al. An anatomical study and ontogenic explanation of 23 cases with variations in the main pattern of the human brachio-antebrachial arteries. J Anat. 1995; 187(Pt 2): 473–479.
- Rodríguez-Niedenführ M, Burton GJ, Deu J, et al. Development of the arterial pattern in the upper limb of staged human embryos: normal development and anatomic variations. J Anat. 2001; 199(Pt 4): 407–417.
- Rodríguez-Niedenführ M, Sañudo JR, Vázquez T, et al. Anastomosis at the level of the elbow joint connecting the deep, or normal, brachial artery with major arterial variations of the upper limb. J Anat. 2000; 196(Pt 1): 115–119.
- Rodríguez-Niedenführ M, Vázquez T, Nearn L, et al. Variations of the arterial pattern in the upper limb revisited: a morphological and statistical study, with a review of the literature. J Anat. 2001; 199(Pt 5): 547–566.
- Sañudo JR, Mirapeix RM, Garcia R, et al. A superficial ulnar artery anastomosing with a larger anterior interosseous artery to supply the wrist and hand. J Anat. 1998; 192(Pt 3): 439–441.
- Sieger J, Patel L, Sheikh K, et al. Superficial brachioulnar artery and its clinical significance. Anat Cell Biol. 2019; 52(3): 333–336.
- Solan S. Accessory superficial ulnar artery: a case report. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013; 7(12): 2943–2944.
- Szpinda M. Anatomia prawidłowa człowieka. 1th ed. Vol. 1. Wydawnictwo Medyczne Edra Urban & Partner, Wrocław 2022.
- Uglietta JP, Kadir S. Arteriographic study of variant arterial anatomy of the upper extremities. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 1989; 12(3): 145–148.
- Yazar F, Kirici Y, Ozan H, et al. An unusual variation of the superficial ulnar artery. Surg Radiol Anat. 1999; 21(2): 155–157.
