contribution to variations of the terminal part of the radial artery in man

The course and branches of the terminal part of the radial artery were studied both hands of 25 cadavers. An abnormal course for the radial artery and four different patterns of branching were found. The artery crossed deep to the tendon of extensor carpi radialis longus on the dorsum of the hand before passing to the palm. The arteria radialis indicis may arise directly from the radial artery, or may arise with the arteria princeps pollicis by a common stem or by an arterial dilatation. The arteria princeps pollicis may arise as two branches. These variations must be observed in surgery of the thumb and index fingers