THE RADIAL ARTERY. ">:>>!> 



In the hand it passes from the upper end of the first interosseous space, 

 between the heads of the Abductor indicis or First dorsal interosseous muscle, 

 transversely across the palm, to the base of the metacarpal bone of the little 

 finger, where it inosculates with the communicating branch from the ulnar artery, 

 forming the deep palmar arch. It lies upon the carpal extremities of the metacarpal 

 bones and the Interossei muscles, being covered by the Adductor obliquus pollicis, 

 the flexor tendons of the fingers, the Lumbricales, the Opponens, and Flexor 

 brevis minimi digiti. Alongside of it is the deep branch of the ulnar nerve, but 

 running in the opposite direction ; that is to say, from within outward. 



Peculiarities. The origin of the radial artery, according to Quain, is, in nearly one case 

 in eight, higher than usual ; more frequently arising from the axillary or upper part of the 

 brachial than from the lower part of this vessel. The variations in the position of this vessel 

 in the arm and at the bend of the elbow have been already mentioned. In the forearm it 

 deviates less frequently from its position than the ulnar. It has been found lying over the fascia 

 instead of beneath it. It has also been observed on the surface of the Supinator longus, instead 

 of under its inner border ; and in turning round the wrist it lias been seen lying over, instead of 

 beneath, the extensor tendons of the thumb. 



Surface Marking. The position of the radial artery in the forearm is represented by a 

 line drawn from the outer border of the tendon of the Biceps in the centre of the hollow in front 

 of the elbow-joint with a straight course to the inner side of the fore part of the styloid process 

 of the radius. 



Surgical Anatomy. The radial artery is much exposed to injury in its lower third, and is 

 frequently wounded by the hand being driven through a pane of glass, by the slipping of a 

 knife or chisel held in the other hand, and such-like accidents. The injury is often followed by 

 a traumatic aneurism, for which the old operation of laying open the sac and securing the vessel 

 above and below is required. 



The operation of tying the radial artery is required in cases of wounds either of its trunk or 

 of some of its branches, or for aneurism ; and it will be observed that the vessel may be exposed 

 in any part of its course through the forearm without the division of any muscular fibres. The 

 operation in the middle or inferior third of the forearm is easily performed, but in- the upper 

 third, near the elbow, it is attended with some difficulty, from the greater depth of the vessel 

 and from its being overlapped by the Supinator longus muscle. 



To tie the artery in the upper third an incision three inches in length should be made 

 through the integument, in a line drawn from the centre of the bend of the elbow to the front 

 of the styloid process of the radius, avoiding the branches of the median vein ; the fascia of 

 the arm being divided and the Supinator longus drawn a little outward, the artery will be 

 exposed. The venae comites should be carefully separated from the vessel, and the ligature 

 passed from the radial to the ulnar side. 



In the middle third of the forearm the artery may be exposed by making an incision of 

 similar length on the inner margin of the Supinator longus. In this situation the radial nerve 

 lies in close relation with the outer side of the artery, and should, as well as the veins, be care- 

 fully avoided. 



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

 interval between the tendons of the Supinator longus and Flexor carpi radialis muscles. 



The branches of the radial artery may be divided into three groups, corre- 

 sponding with the three regions in which the vessel is situated. 



( Radial Recurrent. C Posterior Carpal. 



In the I Muscular. W ' t \ Metacarpal. 



Forearm. j Anterior Carpal. j Dorsales Pollicis. 



(^ Superficial Volse. [ Dorsalis Indicis. 



f Princeps Pollicis. 

 j Radialis Indicis. 

 Hand. \ Perforating. 



j Palmar Interosseous. 

 ^ Palmar Recurrent. 



The radial recurrent is given off immediately below the elbow. It ascends 

 between the branches of the musculo-spiral nerve lying on the Supinator brevis, 

 and then between the Supinator longus and Brachialis anticus, supplying these 

 muscles and the elbow-joint, and anastomosing with the terminal branches of the 

 superior profunda. 



The muscular branches are distributed to the muscles on the radial side of 

 the forearm. 



