The ulnar artery is a terminal branch of the brachial artery.
Arteries of the forearm
|Branches:||Anterior ulnar recurrent artery, posterior ulnar recurrent artery, common interosseous artery, palmar carpal branch, dorsal carpal branch, deep palmar branch, superficial palmar arch|
|Arterial supply:||To muscles of the medial forearm and medial hand, common flexor sheath, ulnar nerve|
|Search for Ulnar artery in Gray's.|
The course of the ulnar artery can be represented by the distal two thirds of a line from the lateral side of pisiform to the medial epicondyle; its upper third by a line from a short distance below the centre of the cubital fossa to join the first line. It may sometimes be felt by deep palpation at the wrist although is usually impalpable.
The artery is the larger of the two terminal branches of the brachial artery, which divides above the neck of radius. It moves medially across the forearm beneath the muscles of the common flexor origin, to lie upon flexor digitorum profundus beneath flexor carpi ulnaris. From the midpoint of the forearm it continues down the medial side in a straight line, crossing the flexor retinaculum lateral to the ulnar nerve and pisiform. It gives off its deep branch before becoming the superficial palmar arch.
Palmar carpal branch
Dorsal carpal branch
This branch arises just proximal to pisiform. It travels deep to the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris, onto the dorsal surface of the carpal bones. It travels deep to the extensor tendons, forming the dorsal carpal arch by its anastamosis. It supplies a small digital branch to the medial side of the posterior surface of the little finger.
Deep palmar branch
Passes between flexor digiti minimi and abductor digiti minimi, either deep to or through opponens digiti minimi, alongside the deep terminal branch of the ulnar nerve. Its anastamosis completes the deep palmar arch.
- Anterior ulnar recurrent artery
- Posterior ulnar recurrent artery
- Common interosseous artery
- Superficial palmar arch
Two paired venae comitantes surround the artery throughout its course. These originate from tributaries which are themselves venae comitantes of the branches of the ulnar artery, and drain into the brachial vein.
- Median nerve (for first few cm, the nerve then crosses the artery to lie beyond pronator teres)
- Flexor carpi ulnaris (middle third of artery)
- Superficial and deep fasciae
- Palmar carpal branch of the radial artery (Palmar carpal branch - makes the palmar carpal arch)
- Dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery (Dorsal carpal branch - makes the dorsal carpal arch)
- Radial artery (deep palmar branch - makes the deep palmar arch)
Arterial Supply to
- Muscles of the medial forearm
- Medial hand
- Ulnar nerve
- Common flexor sheath