Arm Arteries: Understanding Blood Supply & Key Vessels

The axillary artery, a continuation of the subclavian artery,

is the main artery of the upper limb. In the axilla, it gives off several branches (thoracic branches – the highest thoracic, acromial and the superior thoracic arteries).

In its continuation in the arm, the brachial artery gives off numerous small branches and then divides into:

- the radial artery- continues along the lateral aspect of the forearm to the wrist to become superficial then turns laterally between the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscles at the anatomical snuffbox. It passes between the 1st and 2nd digits - the deep palmar arch- a common continuation on the radial and ulnar arteries