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The superficial ulnar artery: development and clinical significance

Artéria ulnar superficial: desenvolvimento e relevância clínica

Abstracts

The principal arteries of the upper limb show a wide range of variation that is of considerable interest to orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists and anatomists. We present here a case of superficial ulnar artery found during the routine dissection of right upper limb of a 50-year-old male cadaver. The superficial ulnar artery originated from the brachial artery, crossed the median nerve anteriorly and ran lateral to this nerve and the brachial artery. The superficial ulnar artery in the arm gave rise to a narrow muscular branch to the biceps brachii. At the elbow level the artery ran superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis where it was crossed by the median cubital vein. It then ran downward and medially superficial to the forearm flexor muscles, and then downward to enter the hand. At the palm, it formed the superficial and deep palmar arches together with the branches of the radial artery. The presence of a superficial ulnar artery is clinically important when raising forearm flaps in reconstructive surgery. The embryology and clinical significance of the variation are discussed.

Upper limb; superficial ulnar artery; brachial artery; forearm flexor muscles; forearm flaps


As principais artérias do membro superior apresentam uma ampla variação, que é relativamente importante a cirurgiões ortopédicos e plásticos, radiologistas e anatomistas.Apresentamosumcaso de artéria ulnar superficial encontrada durante dissecção de rotina de membro superior direito de um cadáver masculino de 50 anos de idade.Aartéria ulnar superficial originava-se da artéria braquial, cruzava o nervo mediano anteriormente e percorria lateralmente esse nervo e a artéria braquial. A artéria ulnar superficial no braço deu origem a um ramo muscular estreito do músculo bíceps braquial. Ao nível do cotovelo, a artéria percorria superficialmente a aponeurose bicipital, onde era cruzada pela veia cubital mediana. Percorria, então, em sentido descendente e medialmente superficial aos músculos flexores do antebraço, e então descendia para entrar na mão. Na palma, essa artéria formava os arcos palmares superficial e profundo junto com os ramos da artéria radial.Apresença de uma artéria ulnar superficial é clinicamente importante ao levantar retalhos do antebraço em cirurgias reconstrutivas.Aembriologia e relevância clínica da variação são discutidas.

Membro superior; artéria ulnar superficial; artéria braquial; músculos flexores do antebraço; retalhos do antebraço


CASE REPORT

The superficial ulnar artery: development and clinical significance

Artéria ulnar superficial: desenvolvimento e relevância clínica

Srinivasulu ReddyI; Venkata Ramana VollalaII

IDepartment of Anatomy, KMC International Centre, Manipal, India

IIDepartment of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), International Centre for Health Sciences, Manipal, India

Correspondência Correspondence: Venkata Ramana Vollala Lecturer, Department of Anatomy Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus) International Centre for Health Sciences Manipal-576104 Karnataka State, India Tel.: + 91 820 292.2642 Fax: + 91 820 257.1905 Email: ramana.anat@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The principal arteries of the upper limb show a wide range of variation that is of considerable interest to orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists and anatomists. We present here a case of superficial ulnar artery found during the routine dissection of right upper limb of a 50-year-old male cadaver. The superficial ulnar artery originated from the brachial artery, crossed the median nerve anteriorly and ran lateral to this nerve and the brachial artery. The superficial ulnar artery in the arm gave rise to a narrow muscular branch to the biceps brachii. At the elbow level the artery ran superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis where it was crossed by the median cubital vein. It then ran downward and medially superficial to the forearm flexor muscles, and then downward to enter the hand. At the palm, it formed the superficial and deep palmar arches together with the branches of the radial artery. The presence of a superficial ulnar artery is clinically important when raising forearm flaps in reconstructive surgery. The embryology and clinical significance of the variation are discussed.

Keywords: Upper limb, superficial ulnar artery, brachial artery, forearm flexor muscles, forearm flaps.

RESUMO

As principais artérias do membro superior apresentam uma ampla variação, que é relativamente importante a cirurgiões ortopédicos e plásticos, radiologistas e anatomistas.Apresentamosumcaso de artéria ulnar superficial encontrada durante dissecção de rotina de membro superior direito de um cadáver masculino de 50 anos de idade.Aartéria ulnar superficial originava-se da artéria braquial, cruzava o nervo mediano anteriormente e percorria lateralmente esse nervo e a artéria braquial. A artéria ulnar superficial no braço deu origem a um ramo muscular estreito do músculo bíceps braquial. Ao nível do cotovelo, a artéria percorria superficialmente a aponeurose bicipital, onde era cruzada pela veia cubital mediana. Percorria, então, em sentido descendente e medialmente superficial aos músculos flexores do antebraço, e então descendia para entrar na mão. Na palma, essa artéria formava os arcos palmares superficial e profundo junto com os ramos da artéria radial.Apresença de uma artéria ulnar superficial é clinicamente importante ao levantar retalhos do antebraço em cirurgias reconstrutivas.Aembriologia e relevância clínica da variação são discutidas.

Palavras-chave: Membro superior, artéria ulnar superficial, artéria braquial, músculos flexores do antebraço, retalhos do antebraço.

Introduction

Normally, the ulnar artery begins distal to the bend of the elbow as the larger of the two terminal divisions of the brachial artery. It runs deep to the antebrachial flexor muscles and then superficial to the flexor retinaculum. The artery ends by forming the superficial palmar arch with a contribution from the superficial branch of the radial artery. The arch gives palmar digital branches to the medial three fingers and also to the medial half of the index finger. The lateral aspect of the index finger and the thumb normally receive their arterial supply from the radial artery through the radialis indicis and the princeps pollicis arteries, respectively.1

The term superficial ulnar artery is applied to an artery which arises from the axillary, brachial or superficial brachial arteries and courses over the origins of the superficial forearm muscles to join at the midlevel of the forearm with the ulnar artery, sometimes replacing it.2-4 Its incidence ranges from 0.75 to 3.3%.6 The superficial ulnar artery has been reported with different terminologies; arteria antebrachialis superficialis ulnaris,5-7 high origin of the ulnar artery8,9 and superficial ulnar artery with a high origin.10

Case report

The superficial ulnar artery (Figures 1 and 2) was found in the right upper limb of a 50-year-old male cadaver during routine dissections in the Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, India. However, the left upper limb showed no abnormalities. The dissections of both upper extremities (right and left) of the body were carried out according to the instructions by Cunningham's manual of practical anatomy. The dissections took place during 2005-2006. The bodies were preserved by the injection of a formalin-based preservative (10% formalin) and stored at - 4 ºC.1 2



Discussion

The superficial ulnar artery is a well-known but very rarely encountered abnormality. In the present case the artery arose from the brachial artery in the proximal part of the arm. It then descended along the arm superficial and lateral to the median nerve (Figure 1). At the elbow level the artery ran superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis where it was crossed by the median cubital vein (Figure 1). After that, the artery coursed obliquely downwards and medially, superficial to the forearm flexor muscles over the antebrachial fascia and under the superficial venous system to reach the distal third of the forearm, where it was seen on the lateral side of flexor carpi ulnaris close to the ulnar nerve (Figure 2). The artery then passed anterior to the flexor retinaculum where it divided into two terminal branches. The superficial one anastomosed with the palmar branch of the radial artery to form the superficial palmar arch and the deep branch anastomosed with the radial artery to form the deep palmar arch.

The brachial artery had a normal course in the arm but at elbow level it divided into the radial and common interosseous arteries (Figure 2). The superficial ulnar artery was of a smaller caliber than both the radial and common interosseous arteries.

The superficial course of the ulnar artery over the forearm flexors has been described in two ways: under the antebrachial fascia8,11-13 or, more infrequently, as in our case, over the antebrachial fascia in a subcutaneous position,11,14 crossed by the median cubital vein.15 The artery has been described as gaining the lateral border of flexor carpi ulnaris at midforearm level12 or after passing deep to the palmaris longus.11,12,16,17 However, in our case this relationship was gained at the distal third of the forearm, close to the wrist joint. Our case was not associated with other arterial anomalies, although other authors have reported superficial ulnar artery associated with the presence of a median artery.8,16,18

Developmentally, the upper limb bud is initially supplied by a vascular plexus derived from four or five consecutive intersegmental branches of the dorsal aorta. Very early in development, the seventh cervical intersegmental branch enlarges and becomes consolidated as the main artery (axis artery) to the developing upper limb bud. This axis artery gives rise to the subclavian, axillary, brachial, and interosseous arteries and to the deep palmar arch. Other arteries of the upper limb develop as sprouts of the axis artery.19-22 The developmental reason for the superficial ulnar artery in the present case may be due to the ulnar artery establishing a connection with the axis artery in the arm and the bifurcation of brachial artery into radial artery and common interosseous artery may be due to the posterior interosseous artery arising from the axis artery just distal to the connection of radial artery with the axis artery in the cubital fossa region and the continuation of the main trunk (axis artery) between radial and posterior interosseous arteries being the common interosseous artery.

Vascular anomalies occurring in common surgical sites tend to increase the likelihood of damage during surgery. Owing to its unusual origin in the arm and its subcutaneous course, the superficial ulnar artery would be particularly vulnerable in surgical procedures within the arm and forearm. In the present subject the ulnar artery was immediately subjacent to the median cubital vein. This would predispose the vessel to inadvertent penetration during attempts at venipuncture of the median cubital vein.

Although accidental intra-arterial injection of drugs is rare, if it occurs, amputation of the forearm or fingers is unfortunately sometimes necessary. Since the free forearm flap on the radial artery is often used in reconstructive surgery, if a superficial ulnar artery is present there is a risk that it may be ligated or cut instead of the superficial vein, causing disorder of circulation in the hand.11,23 On the other hand, the presence of a superficial ulnar artery can be advantageous, since it can be used to supply blood to the forearm flap.24 Radiographically, the superficial ulnar artery can lead to misinterpretation of incomplete angiographic pictures.23 Therefore, it is important to know whether a patient has a superficial ulnar artery in the forearm.

Conclusion

Since a superficial ulnar artery is actually not very rare, there is a fair chance that clinicians may encounter this anomaly. Therefore, one should always keep in mind this anatomic variation and try to detect it before any technical procedure in the upper limb. Owing to its surgical importance, variations of the ulnar artery merit description.

Manuscript received May 1st, 2007, accepted June 08, 2007.

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  • Correspondence:
    Venkata Ramana Vollala
    Lecturer, Department of Anatomy
    Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus)
    International Centre for Health Sciences
    Manipal-576104
    Karnataka State, India
    Tel.: + 91 820 292.2642
    Fax: + 91 820 257.1905
    Email:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      17 Jan 2008
    • Date of issue
      Sept 2007

    History

    • Received
      01 May 2007
    • Accepted
      08 June 2007
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