Superficial venous palmar arch
Arcus venosus palmaris superficialis
A paired venous arch lying with the superficial palmar arterial arch in the palm, collecting the common palmar digital veins.
At a glance
- English
- Superficial venous palmar arch
- Latin (TA2)
- Arcus venosus palmaris superficialis
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Upper limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the superficial venous palmar arch
The superficial venous palmar arch is the venous partner of the superficial palmar arterial arch. It consists of two small venae comitantes that run on either side of the artery, linked by short cross-connections, rather than a single wide channel.
The arterial arch it accompanies is formed mainly by the ulnar artery, continuing across the palm after passing lateral to the pisiform, and is usually completed by a small branch of the radial artery. It lies just deep to the palmar aponeurosis and superficial to the long flexor tendons and the branches of the median nerve. Its most distal point lies roughly level with the distal border of the fully extended thumb, a finger's breadth further from the wrist than the deep arch.
The arch receives the common palmar digital veins, which follow the common palmar digital arteries and drain the facing sides of adjacent fingers and the superficial tissues of the palm. It communicates with the deep venous palmar arch and, through the intercapitular veins, with the venous network on the back of the hand.
At its medial end the arch drains into the ulnar veins, and at its lateral end it connects with the radial veins, so blood returns up the forearm in the deep system. Because the palm is crossed by many such linked channels, venous outflow from the hand rarely fails when one vein is blocked. The position of the superficial arches matters in surgery of the palm, for instance in releasing the palmar fascia in Dupuytren's contracture or in treating deep cuts.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Formed by the venae comitantes of the superficial palmar arterial arch, collecting the common palmar digital veins.
- Drains into
- Drains into the ulnar veins medially and the radial veins laterally, and communicates with the deep arch.
- Drains
- Drains the superficial tissues of the palm and the palmar surfaces of the fingers.
Anthromica
See the superficial venous palmar arch where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
