Superficial Ulnar Artery: A Rare Variation in a Tanzanian Male Cadaver

Abstract

The superficial ulnar artery is a very rare variation of the upper limb arterial system that usually arises from the brachial artery and occasionally it may arise from axillary artery and runs superficial to the muscles of the forearm that arising from the medial epicondyle. In our daily routine dissections we observed a unilateral superficial ulnar artery on the right hand side of a male cadaver of 53 years of age. The artery emerged superficially immediate below the lower margin of the bicipital aponeurosis and coursed superficial to palmaris longus and flexor carpi ulnaris making it highly vulnerable to intra-arterial injection. Knowledge of this anatomical variation is of great importance for every medical personnel.