ARTERIES OF THE FOREARM. 



chial artery are chiefly noticed in the high division of its 

 radial and ulnar branches, which may occur at any point 

 between the elbow and the axilla. 



ARTERIES OF THE FOREARM. 

 RADIAL ARTERY, (Fig. 235.) 



The radial artery seems to be the continued trunk of the 

 brachial, and extends from the bend of the elbow to the 

 wrist. At its upper part, it is between the supinator radii 

 longus and pronator radii teres. It descends along the ra- 

 dial side of the forearm, covered only by the skin and 

 fascia, crosses over the tendon of the biceps and pronator 

 teres ; and at its lower part lies between the supinator 

 longus and flexor carpi radialis. Here it passes outward 

 on the back of the wrist behind the extensor tendons of 

 the thumb, and dips down into the palm of the hand, be- 

 tween the roots of the metacarpal bones of the thumb and 

 fore finger, where it terminates in the arcus profundus, or 

 deep palmar arch. The radial artery in its course is ac- 

 companied by venae comites, and by the radial nerve as far 

 as the middle of the forearm. 



BRANCHES OF THE RADIAL ARTERY. 



The recurrens radialis arises opposite the neck of the 

 radius, passes upward and outward to the external condyle, 

 and anastomoses with the profunda superior. 



Muscular branches are sent off in its course to the various 

 muscles, supinators, and flexors. 



The superficial is voice comes off as the artery is curving 

 upon the wrist, and supplies the ball of the thumb. 



The dorsalis carpi arises next in order and supplies the 

 interosseous muscles of the back of the hand. 



The radialis indicis comes off at the root of the metacar- 

 pal bone of the thumb, and goes along the radial side of 

 the fore finger to its extremity. 



The magna pollicis arises at the same point with the last, 

 and at the head of the metacarpal bone of the thumb 

 divides into two branches, which supply each side of the 

 thumb to its extremity. 



