Variations In Branching Pattern Of Brachial Artery – A Study In Cadavers

ABSTRACT

Brachial artery in arm is commonly used for percutaneous arterial catheterization, angiography, vascular flaps for reconstructive surgeries, and can be injured in fractures of arm or elbow region. Knowledge of variations in branching pattern is must for all clinicians and especially for vascular and orthopaedic surgeons to avoid complications like haemorrhage, ischemia and necrosis during various surgical procedures. This study was done to observe variations in branching pattern of brachial artery in cadavers and its clinical applications. The study was conducted on eighty upper limbs of 40 cadavers (30 males and 10 females) of age group 50-70 years in the Dept of Anatomy, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur (Raj). In 30 cadavers branching pattern of brachial artery was normal. In 10 cadavers either unilaterally or bilaterally variable branching pattern was noticed in the form of (1) Absence of profunda brachial artery (2) Origin of Profunda brachii artery from axillary artery (3) Termination of brachial artery i.e. in the middle of arm into radial and ulnar artery (4) Termination of brachial artery in arm into medial and lateral branches continuing distally as radial and ulnar artery respectively. Genetic predisposition, chemical factors or hemodynamic forces can be the reasons for arterial variations in the upper limb.