774 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



and the coraco-brachialis muscle, and, lower down, the biceps and its tendon. 

 Internally it is in relation, above, with the ulnar, internal cutaneous, and lesser 

 internal cutaneous nerves, and, in its lower third, with the median nerve. The basilic 

 vein is somewhat superficial to it and to its inner side. 



Two venae comites accompany the artery, lying respectively upon its inner and 

 outer sides, and cross branches pass between the two. It is also accompanied by two 

 lymphatic vessels which have in their course three or four lymphatic nodes, usually 

 of small size. 



Branches. — The brachial artery gives off muscular branches to the biceps, 

 coraco-brachialis, brachialis anticus, triceps, and pronator radii teres, and a small 



Fig. 708. 



Deltoid 



Cephalic vein 

 Humeral branch of acromial thoracic artery 



Pectoralis major 



Axillary vein 

 Muscular vein 



Outer headof median nerve 



Inner head of median nerve 



Axillary artery 



Musculo-cutaneous nerve 



Brachial artery 



Superior profunda artery 



Median nerve 



Latissimusdorsi 

 tendon 



Teres mcyor 



Inferior profunda artery 

 Internal intermuscular septum 



Anastomotic artery 



Biceps tendon 

 Ant. cutaneous 

 br. of musculo- 

 cutaneous nrv. 



Bicipital fascia 



Musculo-spiral nerve 

 Inner head of triceps 



Brachial artery in relation to nerves of arm. 



mdrient artery for the humerus (a. nutriciae humeri) arises either directly from the 

 brachial or from one of its muscular branches or from the inferior profunda. It 

 enters the nutrient foramen upon the inner surface of the shaft of the humerus. In 

 addition, there arise from the brachial (i) the superior prof zinda, (2) the inferior 

 profunda, and (3) the anastomotica niag?ia. 



Variations. — The variations which tlie brachial artery- presents are both numerous and 

 important, in that they affect materially the origin of the two terminal branches, the radial 

 and ulnar. 



In cases in which there is a well-developed supracondyloid process on the humerus (page 

 268), the brachial artery accompanies the median nerve behind it, and only passes upon the an- 

 terior surface of the arm after it has passed it. In sucli cases there generally arises from the 

 upper part of the brachial, or even from the axillary, a vessel which descends upon the anterior 

 surface of the arm, lying superficially and sending branches to the biceps and brachialis anticus 



