THE RADIAL ARTERY. 



599 



lie? in dose relation with the outer side of the artery, and should, as well as the veins, be care- 

 fully avoided. 



In tlit- lower third the artery is easily secured by dividing the integument and fascia in the 

 interval between the tendons of the Su- 

 pinator longus and Flexor carpi radialis 

 iraadea 



The branches of the radial ar- 

 tery may be divided into three 

 groups, corresponding with the 

 three region? in which the vessel is 

 situated. 



f Radial Recurrent. 

 In tlis ! Muscular. 



j Anterior Carpal. 



I Superficial Volae. 



| Posterior Carpal. 



) Metacarpal. 



Baditd recurrent. 



Wr t '*t . 



Dorsales Pollicis. 

 Dorsalis Indicis. 

 Princeps Pollicis. 

 Radialis Indicis. 

 Perforating. 

 Interosseous. 

 Palmar Recurrent. 



The radial recurrent is given 

 off immediately below the elbow. 

 It ascends between the branches 

 of the inusculo-spiral nerve lying 

 on the Supinator brevis, and then 

 between the Supinator longus and 

 Brachialia anticus. supplying these 

 muscles and the elbow-joint, and 

 anastomosing with one of the ter- 

 minal branches of the superior 

 profunda. 



The muscular branches are dis- 

 tributed to the muscles on the ra- 

 dial side of the forearm. 



The anterior carpal is a small 

 vessel which arises from the radial 

 artery near the lower border of the 

 Pronator quadratus. and, running 

 inward in front of the radius, an- 

 astomoses with the anterior carpal 

 branch of the ulnar artery. From 

 the arch thus formed branches de- 

 scend to supply the articulations 

 of the wrist. 



The superficialis volae arises 

 from the radial artery, just where 

 this vessel is about to Avind round 

 the wrist. Running forward, it 

 passes between the muscles of the 

 thumb, which it supplies, and some- 

 times anastomoses with the palmar 

 portion of the ulnar artery, com- 

 pleting the superficial palmar arch. 



Deep branch 

 of ulnar. 



Superficial votee. 



FIG. 364. The surgical anatomy of the radial and ulner 

 arteries. 



This vessel varies considerably in size: 



