Higher bifurcation of brachial artery with superficial course of radial artery in forearm: A study report

Abstract

Background: Normally brachial artery divides into its terminal branches namely radial and ulnar arteries at the neck of the radius in the cubital fossa and these are the main arteries responsible for the irrigation of the forearm. In the present study we found higher division of brachial artery into radial and ulnar arteries with superficial course of radial artery unilaterally during routine dissection for MBBS student. Accurate information regarding these variations is important during vascular and re-constructive surgery and also in evaluation of angiographic images. Aims & Objective: The altered anatomy of the blood vessels may make them more vulnerable to trauma and to haemorrhage but at the same time more accessible for cannulation. Our aim is to report the occurrence of the higher division of brachial artery with superficial course of radial artery in a sample of western Indian population. Material and Methods: A prospective evaluation was conducted on cadavers at various Medical Colleges, in Gujarat. The upper limbs of cadavers were dissected and observed for any variation in the course of brachial artery and its terminal branches radial and ulnar arteries. Results: A total of 96 arms of 48 subjects were studied. In three upper limbs we found higher division of brachial artery with superficial course of radial artery. The variant was present unilaterally in left upper limb of three males (6.25%, n = 48). Conclusion: Anomalies in origin and course of principal arteries have practical importance for orthopaedicians, radiologists and vascular surgeons. Awareness of incidence of this variation is necessary to avoid complication during pre-operative procedure or surgeries in the upper limb.