ULNAR ARTERY 159- 



2. Anterior Carpal, given off at the wrist and anastomoses with 

 a similar branch of the ulnar artery. 



3. Posterior Carpal, a small branch which passes backwards 

 and anastomoses with a similar branch from the ulnar artery to 

 form the posterior carpal arch. 



4. Muscular branches for the supply of the adjacent muscles. 

 Ulnar Artery. The larger of the two terminal branches of 



the brachial artery arises in the antecubital fossa, and terminates 

 in the palm of the hand by forming the palmar arches. 



It lies successively on brachialis anticus, flexor profundus 

 digitorum, pronator quadratus, anterior annular ligament. 



It is covered by the (pronator radii teres, flexor sublimis digi- 

 torum, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris) 

 superficial group of flexor muscles from internal condyle of 

 humerus, and in its lower third is subcutaneous. 



The median nerve crosses it above, being separated from the 

 artery by the deep head of pronator radii teres, and on its inner 

 side lies the ulnar nerve. 



Branches. 1. Common Inter 'osseous, a very short trunk arising 

 in the antecubital fossa, and dividing into the anterior and 

 posterior interosseous arteries. 



(a) The Anterior Interosseous artery runs down on the an- 

 terior surface of the interosseous membrane to the upper border- 

 of pronator quadratus, where it pierces the membrane and 

 terminates in the posterior carpal arch. 



(b) The Posterior Interosseous artery passes down the back of 

 the forearm between the superficial and deep muscles which it 

 supplies, and ends by anastomosing with the anterior interosseous 

 artery and the posterior carpal arch. 



2. Anterior Carpal, a small branch given off just above the 

 wrist, which anastomoses with a similar branch from the radial 

 artery to form the anterior carpal arch. 



3. Posterior Carpal, a small branch which passes backwards 

 and anastomoses with a similar branch from the radial artery 

 to form the posterior carpal arch. 



The ulnar artery crosses over the annular ligament, and ter- 

 minates in the palm of the hand by dividing into superficial 

 and deep branches. 



