Anatomy: Macroanatomic investigations of the blood supply of thoracic limb of Kangal dogs

Abstract

Summary In this study, the arterial supply of the thoracic limb was investigated in Kangal dogs. Twelve adult healthy Kangal dogs of either sex were used. Latex was injected into the common carotid artery, and then the axillary artery was dissected. The axillary artery is a continuation of the sub‐clavian artery and supplies the thoracic limb in Kangal dogs. The axillary artery gave off a deltoid branch and external thoracic, lateral thoracic, and subscapular thoracic arteries in its course along the thoracic wall. The axillary artery continues distally as the brachial artery in the arm. The brachial artery gives rise to the cranial humeral circumflex, deep brachial, bicipital, ulnar collateral, superficial brachial, transverse cubital, and common interosseus arteries. It continues as the median artery after giving off the common interosseus artery. It was observed that the deep antebrachial artery arose from the median artery at the proximal third of the forearm. In the distal third of the forearm, the median artery divided into the palmar carpal and dorsal carpal branches. The deep palmar branch of the radial artery and deep branch of the palmar branch of the caudal interosseus artery form the deep palmar arch. The median artery joined the superficial branch of the palmar branch of the caudal interosseus artery to constitute the superficial palmar arch. The radial artery and cranial interosseus artery contributed to the dorsal carpal rete. The ulnar artery contributed to the formation of the deep and superficial palmar arches.