Shoulder artery

Shoulder artery , a. Brachialis, is a direct extension of the axillary artery. It starts at the level of the lower edge of the large pectoral muscle, lies in front of the beak-brachial muscle, then in the medial ulnar fissure, on the surface of the shoulder muscle. Following the muscle down, the brachial artery reaches the ulnar fossa. Here it lies in the groove between the round pronator and the brachial muscle under the aponeurosis of the biceps arm muscle and is divided into two branches: the radial artery a. Radialis, and ulnar artery, a. Ulnaris. Sometimes, as a branch option, a. The brachialis is divided into terminal branches above the anterior elbow region, lying subcutaneously, and receives the name of the superficial brachial artery, a. Brachiatis superficialis.

The brachial artery is accompanied by two brachial veins, vv. Brachiales, and the median nerve, n. Medianus. The latter in the upper third of the shoulder lies outside the artery, in the middle third of the shoulder - in front, and in the lower third of the shoulder is along the medial surface of the artery.
The brachial artery, together with the humeral veins and the median nerve, forms a neurovascular bundle of the shoulder.

From the brachial arteries the following branches branch out.

1. The deep artery of the shoulder, a profunda brachii, begins in the upper third of the shoulder from the posterior internal surface of the brachial artery. Going back, she, along with the radial nerve, n. Radialis, spirals around the posterior surface of the humerus. Then the deep artery of the shoulder continues into the radial collateral artery, a. Collateralis radialis, which goes first behind the lateral intermuscular septum of the shoulder and, giving the branches for the formation of the articular elbow network, rete articulare cubiti, anastomoses with the return artery, a. Recurrens radialis.

A deep artery of the shoulder gives a series of branches:

A) deltoid branch, r. Deltoideus, departs from the initial section of the deep artery of the shoulder, passes under the beak-brachial muscle and the biceps muscle of the shoulder, gives them branches and along the anterior surface of the humerus reaches the deltoid muscle;

B) arteries feeding the humerus, aa. Nutriciae humeri, are sent to the nutrient holes of the humerus. Can depart directly from the brachial artery;

C) middle collateral artery, a. Collateralis media, follows down between the lateral and medial heads of the triceps arm muscle. Then it enters the thickness of the lateral head and, reaching the elbow joint, anastomizes with a. Interossea recurrens, taking part in the formation of the elbow articular network.

2. Upper ulnar collateral artery, a. Collateralis ulnaris superior, begins slightly below the deep artery of the shoulder from the medial surface of the brachial artery, and sometimes the common trunk with it. Heading downwards, the artery approaches the ulnar nerve, n. Ulnaris, accompanies it to the medial condyle, where it participates in the formation of the elbow articular network. Blood supply to the brachial muscle, the medial head of the triceps arm muscle and the skin of this area; Anastomosing the medial condyle with the posterior branch of the recurrent ulnar artery, r. Posterior and. Recurrentis ulnaris.

3. The lower ulnar collateral artery, a. Collateralis ulnaris inferior, begins in the lower third of the shoulder from the medial surface of the brachial artery, just above the medial condyle. Going down the front surface of the shoulder muscle, anastomoses with the anterior branch of the recurrent ulnar artery, r. Anterior a. Recurrentis ulnaris. With its branches reaches the area of ​​the medial condyle, perforates the medial intermuscular septum of the shoulder and takes part in the formation of the elbow articular network.