Deep brachial artery !

The deep brachial artery is a branch of the brachial artery that winds around the humerus with the radial nerve; it feeds the triceps.

Official name: Deep brachial (profunda brachii) artery

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What it is

A branch that runs with the radial nerve around the back of the humerus.

What it does

Feeds the triceps and the back of the arm.

Key facts

Origin: Brachial artery, high in the arm
Branches: Middle and radial collateral arteries
Supplies: Triceps and back of the arm; runs with the radial nerve in its groove

Relations

Course: From the posteromedial side of the brachial artery just below teres major it passes backward with the radial nerve, spirals around the back of the humerus between the lateral and medial heads of the triceps and divides into the middle and radial collateral arteries
Deep: The radial groove on the back of the humerus
Superficial: Lateral head of the triceps covering the groove; the long head where the vessel enters
Lateral: Its radial collateral branch pierces the lateral intermuscular septum with the radial nerve and runs in front of the lateral epicondyle to meet the radial recurrent artery

How to find it

Not palpable. It is met in the posterior approach to the humerus, crossing the back of the shaft with the radial nerve between the heads of the triceps; surgeons find and protect the two as one bundle.

On imaging

Usually seen only on CT or catheter angiography, leaving the back of the upper brachial artery and winding behind the humerus in the radial groove with the radial nerve. A humeral shaft fracture on the radiograph points to this neurovascular bundle. On ultrasound the artery helps find the radial nerve in the groove.

Clinical notes

Posterior and lateral approaches to the humerus: the radial nerve and this artery cross the shaft together and are protected as one bundle
Its posterior radial collateral branch supplies the lateral arm flap, a fasciocutaneous flap used in hand and limb reconstruction
Its ascending (deltoid) branch joins the posterior circumflex humeral artery, a collateral link between shoulder and arm

Anatomical variants

Its origin varies: it may come from the axillary artery, share a trunk with the superior ulnar collateral or the posterior circumflex humeral artery, or be doubled

Humeral shaft fracture

Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

With which nerve does the deep brachial artery run, and through which space?

The radial nerve, through the triangular interval (below teres major, between the long head of triceps and the humerus), then in the radial groove.

Which fracture can injure the deep brachial artery together with the radial nerve?

A fracture of the middle of the humeral shaft, where both cross the bone together.

Which flap is supplied by a branch of the deep brachial artery?

The lateral arm flap, on its posterior radial collateral branch.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Its names

Official Latin (TA2): arteria profunda brachii TA2 4634
Official Spanish (DeCS): Arteria profunda del brazo
English (TA2): Deep brachial (profunda brachii) artery
Also called: profunda brachii artery

Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Profunda Brachii Artery.

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

Deep brachial artery highlighted on the Durgical 3D model