ABSTRACT
Background: The functional importance of hand is revealed by its rich vascularity contributed by superficial anddeep palmar arches (SPA and DPA). The efficiency of collateral circulation in hand by SPA and DPA is essential incertain peripheral vascular diseases like Raynaud’s disease and in harvesting radial artery for coronary arterybypass graft (CABG). Knowledge of variations in the arterial supply of hand is important while performingmicrosurgical procedures like arterial repair, vascular graft and flap application.Objective: To study the morphology of the Superficial Palmar Arch and variation in its formation.Materials and methods: We have dissected 30 cadaveric hands at Department of Anatomy of Medical Collegeand Hospital, Kolkata.Result and conclusion: Out of 30 specimens, variations were observed in 14 specimens. Out of 14 specimens in 11specimens SPA was formed alone by Ulnar Artery, in two specimens SPA was incomplete formed by superficialpalmar branches of Ulnar and Radial Artery, in one specimen there was presence of Persistent Median Arterywith incomplete SPA. All the variations found were present unilaterally. In rest 16 specimens SPA was completeclassical radio-ulnar type.
ABSTRACT
Superficial palmar arterial arch is an arterial arcade, which is a dominant vascular structure of the palm. It is defined as the anastomoses between the superficial branch of the ulnar artery and the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery. The superficial palmar arch completed by anastomosing with one of the branches of radial artery, i.e. with arteria radialis indicis, arteria princeps pollicis, arteria nervi mediana. The present study reporting a variation of superficial palmar arch which is formed alone by superficial branch of ulnar artery and it is also giving branches to radial side of index finger and to the thumb. Normally the branch to the radial side of index finger receives branch from superficial terminal branch of radial artery and it is known as arteria radiclis indicis. The ARI was given by ulnar artery from the terminal part of radial side along with the princeps pollicis branch. The knowledge of variations of the vascular arches warrants the surgeons while performing surgeries on hands, such as arterial repairs, vascular graft applications.