Deep brachial artery

At a glance

English

Deep brachial artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria profunda brachii

System

Artery

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the deep brachial artery

The deep brachial artery (profunda brachii), also called the deep artery of the arm or profunda brachii, is a sizeable vessel that leaves the posterior and lateral side of the brachial artery just after it has passed the lower edge of teres major. From the start it partners the radial nerve, and the two follow the same spiral path around the back of the humerus.

It first heads backwards, passing between the medial head and the long head of triceps brachii, then enters the radial groove on the back of the shaft, where it is roofed over by the lateral head of triceps. Once it has wound round to the outer side of the arm, it divides, and its anterior terminal branch, the radial collateral artery, pierces the lateral intermuscular septum. That branch descends between brachialis and brachioradialis to lie in front of the lateral epicondyle, where it ends by joining the radial recurrent artery from the forearm.

Along its course it gives muscular branches to triceps and to the muscles it passes between, and a branch to deltoid, although deltoid gets most of its blood from the posterior circumflex humeral artery. It may also provide a nutrient artery to the humerus, entering behind the deltoid tuberosity. An ascending (deltoid) branch climbs between the lateral head and the long head of triceps to meet the posterior circumflex humeral artery, linking the arteries of the shoulder and arm.

Its posterior terminal branch, the middle (medial) collateral artery, runs down within the medial head of triceps to the back of the elbow and helps form the network above the olecranon. The radial collateral artery, behind the lateral intermuscular septum, reaches the posterior aspect of the lateral epicondyle and links with the interosseous recurrent and inferior ulnar collateral arteries. Through all these connections the profunda vessel is a key part of the collateral circulation around the elbow. Because it lies on the bone with the radial nerve, it can be damaged together with the nerve in fractures of the shaft of the humerus.

Course and supply

Arises from

The posteromedial side of the brachial artery, close to where it passes the lower edge of teres major.

Ends in

Divides into the middle collateral and radial collateral arteries, which end in the anastomoses around the elbow, the latter joining the radial recurrent artery anterior to the lateral epicondyle.

Supplies

Supplies triceps brachii, part of deltoid and brachialis, the humerus through an occasional nutrient branch, and feeds the arterial network around the elbow.