Anatomy and Cell Biology

Korean Association of Anatomists (대한해부학회)
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Study of course and termination of brachial artery by dissection and computed tomography angiography methods with clinical importance

  • Hemamalini Shetty (Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER) ;
  • Vikram Patil (Department of Radiology, JSS Hospital) ;
  • Najma Mobin (Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER) ;
  • Manjunatha Hanasoge Narayana Gowda (Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER) ;
  • Vinutha Shanubhognahalli Puttamallappa (Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER) ;
  • Ravishankar Mathada Vamadevaiah (Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER) ;
  • Pushpalatha Kunjappagounder (Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER)
  • Received : 2022.03.13
  • Accepted : 2022.05.12
  • Published : 2022.09.30
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Abstract

The Brachial artery is a continuation of the axillary artery, from the inferior border of the tendon of teres major to the neck of the radius, terminating into radial and ulnar arteries just a cm distal to the elbow joint. Unlike veins, variations in the arteries are comparatively less common. Anatomical variations of the brachial artery occur in almost 20% of the cases and are commonly found during routine dissection or clinical practice. To observe the variations in the course and termination of brachial artery by dissection and computed tomography (CT) angiography methods. The present study was conducted on 40 upper limbs each in the department of Anatomy & Radiology of JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru. The brachial artery was traced from origin to termination and variations were noted and photographed. Patients who were undergoing CT angiography of the upper limbs in JSS Hospital were included in the study. Variations noted and compared with the dissection method. In the present study, normal patterns of the brachial arterial course and termination were observed in 31 specimens. The remaining 9 specimens showed variant course and termination in the brachial artery like an unusually tortuous superficial brachial artery, superficial brachio-ulnar artery and brachio-radial artery. CT angiography showed 6 variations and a tortuous brachial artery. A detailed description of the vascular pattern of upper limbs especially variations in their origin and termination is of extreme importance in clinical practice. The knowledge of these variations is important for catheterization, graft harvesting, arteriovenous fistula creation, shunt application and astrup examination.

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References

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