Anterior circumflex humeral artery

At a glance

English

Anterior circumflex humeral artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria circumflexa anterior humeri

System

Artery

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the anterior circumflex humeral artery

The anterior circumflex humeral artery is one of the branches of the third part of the axillary artery, the part beyond the lower border of pectoralis minor. It arises close to the posterior circumflex humeral artery, often at the level of the lower border of subscapularis, and is much the smaller of the two.

From its origin it runs laterally, in front of the surgical neck of the humerus and behind coracobrachialis and the short head of biceps. On reaching the intertubercular groove it gives an ascending branch, which climbs the groove beside the tendon of the long head of biceps to the head of the humerus and the shoulder joint. The main vessel continues round the lateral side of the bone, beneath deltoid, and joins the posterior circumflex humeral artery, completing an arterial ring around the surgical neck.

Its branches supply the front of the shoulder joint capsule, the long head of biceps, the humeral head through the ascending branch, and the anterior fibres of deltoid that overlie the vessel. The ring it forms with the posterior circumflex humeral artery is also linked to the suprascapular and thoraco-acromial arteries in the network round the shoulder.

The ascending branch enters the humeral head near the top of the intertubercular groove. In complex fractures of the proximal humerus that separate the head from the tuberosities, both circumflex vessels may be torn, and the head is then at risk of avascular necrosis. Surgeons approaching the front of the shoulder, for instance through the deltopectoral groove, take care to identify the vessel near the lower border of subscapularis.

Course and supply

Arises from

The third part of the axillary artery, near the lower border of subscapularis, often close to or in common with the posterior circumflex humeral artery.

Ends in

Ends by anastomosing with the posterior circumflex humeral artery around the surgical neck of the humerus.

Supplies

Supplies the front of the shoulder joint, the humeral head through its ascending branch, the long head of biceps and the anterior part of deltoid.