Common palmar digital arteries

At a glance

English

Common palmar digital arteries

Latin (TA2)

Arteriae digitales palmares communes

System

Artery

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the common palmar digital arteries

In the palm the ulnar artery continues as the superficial palmar arch, which curves across the hand at about the level of the distal border of the outstretched thumb and is completed laterally by a small branch of the radial artery. From the convex distal side of the arch arise the common palmar digital arteries, usually three of them.

Each runs distally towards one of the three webs between the index, middle, ring and little fingers, lying on the long flexor tendons and the lumbrical muscles beneath the palmar aponeurosis. On the way each is joined by a palmar metacarpal artery from the deep palmar arch, which links the two arches. Near the web the common artery divides into two proper palmar digital arteries, which run along the adjacent sides of two fingers. In the fingers these vessels lie beside the flexor sheath, a little dorsal to the matching digital nerves.

Together they supply the ulnar side of the index finger, both sides of the middle and ring fingers and the radial side of the little finger. The ulnar side of the little finger is supplied by a separate proper digital artery from the arch, and the thumb and the radial side of the index finger take their blood mainly from the radial artery through the princeps pollicis and radialis indicis arteries.

Because the arches are joined, blood can reach the fingers from either the radial or the ulnar artery. The Allen test checks this before a cannula is placed in the radial artery. Lacerations in the palm can divide a common digital artery with its nerve, and repair needs both identified.

Course and supply

Arises from

The convex distal side of the superficial palmar arch, the continuation of the ulnar artery in the palm.

Ends in

Each divides near the finger webs into two proper palmar digital arteries for the adjacent sides of two fingers.

Supplies

Supply the palmar skin, tendon sheaths, joints and bones of the medial three and a half fingers, apart from the ulnar side of the little finger.