Quick Facts
Origin: Brachial artery.
Course: Distally, posterior to the humerus.
Branches: Deltoid branch, radial and middle collateral arteries.
Supplied Structures: Triceps brachii muscle, humerus, skin of the posterior compartment of the arm, elbow joint.
Origin
The deep brachial artery originates from the posteromedial aspect of the proximal brachial artery. It may arise from a common trunk with the posterior circumflex humeral artery as a branch of the axillary artery (Standring, 2016).
Course
The deep brachial artery traverses the triceps hiatus with the radial nerve. This space is formed by the inferior margin of the teres major, lateral border of the long head of the triceps brachii, medial border of the lateral head of the triceps brachii, and the medial border of the humerus.
The deep brachial artery sits deep to the long and medial heads of the triceps brachii muscle and descends along the spiral groove of the humerus, accompanied by the radial nerve. At approximately the level of the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus, it terminally bifurcates into the middle and radial collateral arteries.
Branches
The deep brachial artery gives off a deltoid branch near its origin. It gives off muscular branches to the triceps brachii muscle, and sometimes, an additional nutrient artery to the humerus. Its terminal bifurcation yields the radial and the middle collateral arteries.
Supplied Structures
The deep brachial artery supplies the triceps brachii muscle and overlying cutaneous tissue. It also contributes to the supply of the humerus and elbow joint.
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
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Brachial Artery
Brachial artery perforator flap is a flap based on septocutaneous perforators derived from the brachial artery, which is harvested from the medial upper arm.
