A Rare Anomalous Artery Originating From Axillary Artery

Abstract

During routine dissections in the Dept. Of anatomy, Sri Venkateswara Medical college, Tirupathi, A.P. we encountered a rare anomaly in an adult male cadaver on the right upper limb. The third part of the axillary artery unilaterally divides into two major arterial stems, named according to their localization as deep brachial artery and superficial brachial artery (brachial artery proper).Deep brachial artery passes at first in between the two roots of median nerve, and later deep to lateral root of median nerve. The deep brachial artery gives off the posterior circumflex humeral artery, anterior circumflex humeral artery, subscapular artery, and profunda brachii artery and lower down in the arm,it terminates by dividing into superior ulnar collateral artery and inferior ulnar collateral artery. This case is a anamoly of the axillary artery that has been rarely documented in the literature(0.12-3.2%). Accurate knowledge of the normal and variant arterial anatomy of the axillary artery is important for surgeons and specialists using radiodiagnostic techniques. The improved knowledge would allow more accurate diagnostic interpretations and surgical treatment.