Elbow artery

The ulnar artery (a. ulnaris) is a continuation of the brachial artery, from which it branches off in the cubital fossa at the level of the coronoid process of the ulna. Then, on its way to the hand, the artery goes under the round pronator, giving off muscle branches to it. Then, accompanied by the ulnar nerve, the artery passes in the distal direction between the superficial and deep flexors of the fingers. Through a gap in the medial part of the flexor retinaculum and under the muscles of the eminence of the little finger, the ulnar artery penetrates the palm. Here it anastomoses with the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, forming the superficial palmar arch (arcus palmaris superficialis).

The following branches depart from the ulnar artery:

1. muscular branches (rr. musculares) go to the muscles of the forearm;
2. the ulnar recurrent artery (a.recurrens ulnaris) branches off from the origin of the ulnar artery and divides into an anterior and posterior branch. The larger anterior branch is directed proximally into the medial anterior ulnar groove and anastomoses here with the inferior ulnar collateral artery, a branch of the brachial artery. The posterior branch goes to the back surface of the elbow joint and anastomoses in the medial posterior ulnar groove with the superior ulnar collateral artery, a branch of the brachial artery;
3. The common interosseous artery (a. interossea communis) branches off from the ulnar artery at the level of the tuberosity of the radius. It is a short trunk that runs towards the interosseous membrane and divides into the anterior and posterior interosseous arteries. The anterior interosseous artery (a. interossea anterior) runs along the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane to the proximal edge of the muscle - the square pronator, gives off a branch to the palmar rete of the wrist. Then the artery pierces the membrane and takes part in the formation of the dorsal rete of the wrist. On the forearm, it gives off the artery accompanying the median nerve (a. comitans nervi mediani). The posterior interosseous artery (a. interossea posterior) immediately pierces the interosseous membrane and runs in a distal direction between the extensors of the forearm. From it, the recurrent interosseous artery (a. interossea recurrens) departs, which rises under the lateral tendon bundles of the triceps brachii muscle to the lateral posterior ulnar groove, where it anastomoses with the middle collateral artery from the deep artery of the arm and, like all recurrent arteries, participates in the formation of the ulnar articular network. The terminal branches of the posterior interosseous artery anastomose with the anterior interosseous artery and with the dorsal carpal branches (from the ulnar and radial arteries), participates in the formation of the dorsal carpal network, from which the above-described dorsal metacarpal arteries depart;
4. the palmar carpal branch (r. carpalis palmaris) departs from the ulnar artery at the level of the styloid process of the ulna and, together with the palmar metacarpal branch from the radial artery and the branch from the anterior interosseous artery, participates in the formation of the palmar network of the wrist, from which these joints are supplied with blood;
5. The dorsal carpal branch (r. carpalis dorsalis) starts from the ulnar artery at the same level as the palmar carpal branch, then goes to the back of the hand under the tendon of the ulnar flexor of the hand, and also participates in the formation of the palmar network of the wrist.
6. The deep palmar branch (r. palmaris profundus) departs from the ulnar artery near the pisiform bone, pierces the muscle opposing the little finger, and supplies the muscles of the eminence of the little finger and the skin above the little finger. As noted, the terminal section of the ulnar artery, together with the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, forms the superficial palmar arch. From this arch, the common palmar digital arteries (aa. digitales palmares communes) depart, and from them, the proper digital arteries (aa. digitales palmares рropriae), heading to the adjacent sides of the neighboring fingers.

The upper limbs are characterized by the presence of anastomoses in the system of the subclavian, axillary, brachial, radial and ulnar arteries, providing collateral flow of arterial blood and blood supply to the joints.