Brachial artery with high up division with its embryological basis and clinical significancedevelopment

Namani SATYANARAYANA, P. SUNIT

Abstract

Objectives: To document an unusually short segment brachial artery with its high up division into radial and ulnar arteries in the middle of the arm and to establish embryological and clinico-anatomical correlations of such variation. Methods: The finding was noted after thorough and meticulous dissection of the upper limbs of both sides (axilla, arm, cubital fossa, forearm and palm) of a 40-year-old adult male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Nepal. Photographic documentation of the variation was also made. Results: An unusually short segment brachial artery was noted in the right arm. This short segment brachial artery bifurcated more proximally at the level of insertion of coracobrachialis in the middle of the right arm into radial and ulnar arteries both of same caliber. Further distribution of these two arteries was normal. No other variation was found particularly in relation to the cords of the brachial plexus and their branches. Dissection of the left upper limb revealed no unusual observations. Conclusion: The short segment brachial artery with high up bifurcation as noted in the present study is fairly common. The variation can be explained in the light of embryological development. In addition, knowledge of such variation is important for carrying out surgical procedures in the arm.