Recurrent interosseous artery

At a glance

English

Recurrent interosseous artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria interossea recurrens

System

Artery

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the recurrent interosseous artery

Around the elbow joint lies a network of arteries joining branches that come down from the arm with branches that turn back up from the forearm. The recurrent interosseous artery is one of the ascending contributors on the back of the joint.

It arises from the posterior interosseous artery near its beginning, just after that vessel has passed backwards above the interosseous membrane into the extensor compartment. Instead of continuing down the forearm, it turns upwards, running deep to anconeus, on or through the fibres of supinator, towards the interval between the lateral epicondyle and the olecranon.

Behind the lateral epicondyle it joins the middle collateral artery, a branch of the profunda brachii artery that comes down behind the lateral intermuscular septum. Through this link it ties the forearm vessels to the profunda branch of the brachial artery, while the radial recurrent artery makes a similar link in front with the radial collateral artery.

Its branches supply anconeus, the upper parts of supinator and the extensors that arise from the lateral epicondyle, and the back of the joint capsule. The anastomosis it belongs to allows blood to bypass the elbow if the brachial artery is blocked or tied distal to the origin of the profunda brachii, for example after a supracondylar fracture.

Course and supply

Arises from

The posterior interosseous artery, close to its origin from the common interosseous artery.

Ends in

Ascends behind the lateral epicondyle to anastomose with the middle collateral branch of the profunda brachii artery.

Supplies

Supplies anconeus, supinator and the back of the elbow joint, and links the forearm arteries with the profunda brachii in the elbow anastomosis.