The High Origin of the Radial Artery (Brachioradial Artery): Its Anatomical Variations, Clinical Significance, and Contribution to the Blood Supply of the Hand

Abstract

Background This study thoroughly analyzes the anatomic variations of the brachioradial artery (radial artery of high origin) based on the variability of its origin, the presence and types of anastomosis with the brachial artery in the cubital fossa (“cubital crossover” or “cubital connection”), and the pattern of radial recurrent arteries, as well as the vascular territory within the hand. Material and Methods One hundred and twenty randomly selected, isolated upper limbs fixed in 10% formalin solution were dissected. Results The radial artery was found to have a high origin in 9.2% of total number of the limbs: two cases from the axillary artery; nine cases from the brachial artery. Anastomosis between the brachioradial and “normal” brachial arteries in the cubital fossa was also frequently observed (54.6%). The anastomosis (“cubital crossover”) was dominant in one case, balanced in three cases, minimal in two cases, and absent in five cases. Conclusions The brachioradial artery may originate from the brachial and, less frequently, from the axillary artery. Anastomosis between the brachioradial and “normal” brachial arteries in the cubital fossa may be dominant, balanced, minimal, or absent. A complete radioulnar arch was found more often when the brachioradial artery was present as a variant.

Anatomical Variations of the Pectoralis Major Muscle: Notes on Their Impact on Pectoral Nerve Innervation Patterns and Discussion on Their Clinical Relevance

“…During the further stage of the dissection, the insertion of the PM was cut along the lateral lip of the intertubercular sulcus and reflected to expose the neurovascular bundles and attachment to the costal cartilages. Careful dissection of the neurovascular bundles was performed in accordance with previously described anatomic dissection techniques [33–35]. This stage allowed observing possible differences in PM innervation depending on its anatomical variations.…”

Variations in terminal branches of the popliteal artery: cadaveric study

“…Arterial variations are less common in the lower limbs than the upper limbs [2, 8, 13, 31, 36]. In addition, the variations that occur in the arterial network of the lower limbs are typically associated with the femoral artery and its main branches [23, 28, 33], with fewer variations being observed for the anterior and posterior tibial arteries and fibular arteries [5, 12, 19, 26, 37].…”

The Important Relationship Between the Radial Artery's Course and the Radius during Henry's Anterior Forearm Surgical Exposure

“…Regarding variations, the RA may be infrequently duplicated in approximately 0.2% of all cases (Alameddine et al, 2004;Brzezinski et al, 2009). In 2.4 up to 14.3%, a high origin of the RA from either the axillary or the brachial artery proximal to the cubital fossa has been described (Rodríguez-Niedenführ et al, 2001;Brzezinski et al, 2009, p. 9;Haładaj et al, 2018, Natsis et al, 2020.…”