UPPER EXTREMITY AND THORAX, ANTERIOR. 287 



Branches of the Brachial. 



(1) The superior profunda. This is the largest branch 

 of the brachial. It arises from the posterior surface of the 

 artery, takes a course downward ; then with the musculo- 

 spiral nerve, downward and outward through the musculo- 

 spiral groove to terminate by anastomosing with the radial 

 recurrent at the outer side of the arm in the space between 

 the brachialis anticus and the supinator longus. Besides 

 the muscular branches it gives off the ascending and articu- 

 lar , which will be found in the dissection of the posterior of 

 the arm. 



(2) The inferior profunda is given off the inside of 

 the brachial opposite the insertion of the coracobrachialis. 

 It often arises with the superior profunda as a common 

 trunk from the brachial. It takes a course downward and 

 inward with the ulnar nerve to get behind the internal con- 

 dyle and terminates in an anastomosis with the posterior 

 ulnar recurrent and anastomotica magna arteries. 



(3) The nutrient. This small branch is given off at the 

 lower part of the insertion of the coracobrachialis and 

 enters the nutrient foramen of the humerus. 



(4) Muscular branches are supplied to the adjacent mus- 

 cles and vary from six to eight in number. 



(5) The anastomotica mag-na. This is from the inside 

 of the brachial from one to two inches above the bend of 

 the elbow. Its course is inward, and at the inner border of 

 the arm it divides into two branches : (a) the anterior 

 which is smaller than the posterior, and descends between 

 the brachialis anticus and pronator radii teres to anastomose 

 at the inside of the elbow with the anterior recurrent ulnar ; 

 (t>) the posterior, which continues backward around the 

 inner side of the arm, anastomoses with the inferior pro- 

 funda and posterior recurrent ulnar arteries, and terminates 



