Palmar carpal branch of radial artery

At a glance

English

Palmar carpal branch of radial artery

Latin (TA2)

Ramus carpeus palmaris arteriae radialis

System

Artery

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the palmar carpal branch of radial artery

In the lower forearm the radial artery lies just lateral to the tendon of flexor carpi radialis, where its pulse is felt. Near the lower border of pronator quadratus, before it turns round the lateral side of the wrist into the anatomical snuffbox, it gives a small palmar carpal branch.

The branch runs medially across the front of the lower end of the radius, deep to the long flexor tendons. It meets the palmar carpal branch of the ulnar artery, and together they form the palmar carpal arch, a fine arterial network on the front of the wrist bones and their ligaments. The network is joined from above by a branch of the anterior interosseous artery and from below by recurrent branches from the deep palmar arch.

From this network small vessels enter the distal radius and ulna, the carpal bones and the radiocarpal and intercarpal joints. It is much finer than the dorsal network, and together with it forms a ring of small vessels around the carpus.

The network on the front of the wrist is one of the routes by which the carpal bones receive blood, including the distal pole of the scaphoid. Surgeons using the palmar approach to the distal radius, for example to fix a fracture beneath pronator quadratus, often meet the branch and divide it.

Course and supply

Arises from

The radial artery, near the lower border of pronator quadratus.

Ends in

Runs medially across the front of the distal radius to join the palmar carpal branch of the ulnar artery in the palmar carpal network.

Supplies

Supplies the front of the distal radius, the carpal bones and the joints of the wrist.