FOREARM AND HAND 131 



by the fleshy belly of the latter muscle (Fig. 61). At a more 

 distal level it is placed between the brachio-radialis, on the 

 lateral side, and the flexor carpi radialis, upon the medial 

 side ; and that position it maintains as far as the wrist. 

 Where the muscles mentioned are fleshy the artery lies at 

 some depth from the surface; but when their tendons appear 

 it assumes a superficial position, and is covered merely by 

 the integument and fasciae. Throughout its whole length it 

 is closely accompanied by the vencs comites, and the super- 

 ficial division of the radial nerve lies along its lateral side 

 in the middle third of the forearm. More proximally, the 

 nerve is separated from the vessel by a slight interval ; whilst 

 distally, the nerve leaves the artery and turns round the lateral 

 margin of the forearm, under cover of the tendon of the 

 brachio-radialis. 



Posteriorly, the radial artery is supported by the muscles 

 which clothe and find attachment to the front of the radius. 

 At its origin it rests upon the tendon of the biceps brachii ; 

 next it lies in front of the supinator, with some adipose 

 tissue intervening ; thence distally it is in contact with the 

 pronator teres, the thin radial head of the flexor digitorum 

 sublimis, the flexor pollicis longus, the pronator quadratus, and, 

 lastly, the distal end of the radius. 



The radial artery is usually selected for the determination of the pulse. 

 When the tips of the fingers are placed upon the distal part of the forearm, 

 in the interval between the tendons of the brachio-radialis and flexor 

 carpi radialis, the pulsations of the vessel, in the living person, can readily 

 be felt. 



Branches of the Radial Artery. In the forearm the 

 radial artery gives off the following branches, viz. : 



1. The a. recurrens radialis. 



2. The a. volaris superficialis. 



3. The a. carpea volaris radialis. 



4. Kami musculares. 



The muscular branches are very numerous, and proceed from 

 the radial artery, at irregular points, throughout its whole 

 course in the forearm (Fig. 62). 



The radial recurrent artery is a branch of some size. It 

 takes origin close to the commencement of the radial artery, 

 and, in the first instance, runs laterally between the brachio- 

 radialis and the supinator. There it comes into relation with 



