594 



ANGIOLOGY 





longus. In the interval between the two Extensores pollicis it is crossed by the digital rami of 

 the superficial branch of the radial nerve which go to the thumb and index finger. 



(c) In the hand, it passes from the upper end of the first interosseous space, between the heads 

 of the first Interosseus dorsalis, transversely across the palm between the Adductor pollicis 

 obliquus and Adductor pollicis transversus, but sometimes piercing the latter muscle, to the 

 base of the metacarpal bone of the little finger, where it anastomoses with the deep volar branch 

 from the ulnar artery, completing the deep volar arch (Fig. 528). 



Peculiarities. The origin of the radial artery is, in nearly one case in eight, higher than usual; 

 more often it arises from the axillary or upper part of the brachial than from the lower part of 

 the latter vessel. In the forearm it deviates less frequently from its normal position than the 

 ulnar. It has been found lying on the deep fascia instead of beneath it. It has also been observed 

 on the surface of the Brachioradialis, instead of under its medial border; and in turning around 

 the wrist, it has been seen lying on, instead of beneath, the Extensor tendons of the thumb. 



Branches. The branches of the radial artery may be divided into three groups, 

 corresponding with the three regions in which the vessel is situated. 



In the Forearm. 

 Radial Recurrent. 

 Muscular. 

 Volar Carpal. 

 Superficial Volar. 



At the Wrist. 

 Dorsal Carpal. 

 First Dorsal Metacarpal. 



In the Hand. 

 Princeps Pollicis. 

 Volaris Indicis Radialis. 

 Volar Metacarpal. 

 Perforating. 

 Recurrent. 



The radial recurrent artery (a. recurrent radialis) arises immediately below the 

 elbow. It ascends between the branches of the radial nerve, lying on the Supinator 

 and then between the Brachioradialis and Brachialis, supplying these muscles 

 and the elbow-joint, and anastomosing with the terminal part of the profunda 

 brachii. 



The muscular branches (rami musculares) are distributed to the muscles on the 

 radial side of the forearm. 



The volar carpal branch (ramus careens volaris; anterior radial carpal artery) 

 is a small vessel which arises near the lower border of the Pronator quadratus, 

 and, running across the front of the carpus, anastomoses with the volar carpal 

 branch of the ulnar artery. This anastomosis is joined by a branch from the volar 

 interosseous above, and by recurrent branches from the deep volar arch below, 

 thus forming a volar carpal net-work which supplies the articulations of the wrist 

 and carpus. 



The superficial volar branch (ramus volaris superficialis; superficialis voice artery) 

 arises from the radial artery, just where this vessel is about to wind around the 

 lateral side of the wrist. Running forward, it passes- through, occasionally over, 

 the muscles of the ball of the thumb, which it supplies, and sometimes anastomoses 

 with the terminal portion of the ulnar artery, completing the superficial volar arch. 

 This vessel varies considerably in size: usually it is very small, and ends in the 

 muscles of the thumb; sometimes it is as large as the continuation of the radial 



The dorsal carpal branch (ramus carpeus dorsalis; posterior radial carpal artery) 

 is a small vessel which arises beneath the Extensor tendons of the thumb ; crossing 

 the carpus transversely toward the medial border of the hand, it anastomoses with 

 the dorsal carpal branch of the ulnar and with the volar and dorsal interosseous 

 arteries to form a dorsal carpal network. From this network are given off three 

 slender dorsal metacarpal arteries, which run downward on the second, third, and 

 fourth Interossei dorsales and bifurcate into the dorsal digital branches for the 

 supply of the adjacent sides of the middle, ring, and little fingers respectively, 

 communicating with the proper volar digital branches of the superficial volar 

 arch. Near their origins they anastomose with the deep volar arch by the superior 

 perforating arteries, and near their points of bifurcation with the common volar 

 digital vessels of the superficial volar arch by the inferior perforating arteries. 



