Blood Vessels and Lymphatics of the Upper Limb

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The blood supply and lymphatic drainage of the upper limb covers the arterial supply, venous, and lymphatic drainage to the structures of the upper limb: the hand, forearm, upper arm and axilla. 

In terms of arterial supply, the upper limb has 5 main vessels, the: subclavian, axillary, brachial, radial, and ulnar arteries. The subclavian, axillary and brachial arteries are continuous with one another, with the brachial artery bifurcating into the radial and ulnar arteries which later converge in the hand. These arteries supply oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to the many muscles of the upper limb, as well as its other structures.

In this section, learn more about the blood supply and lymphatic drainage of the upper limb…

Arterial Supply to the Upper Limb

The arterial supply to the upper limb is delivered via five main vessels (proximal to distal):

Subclavian artery

Axillary artery

Brachial artery

Radial artery

Ulnar artery

In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the arteries of the upper limb – their anatomical course, branches and clinical correlations.

Subclavian Artery

The arterial supply to the upper limb begins as the subclavian artery. On the right, the subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk. On the left, it branches directly from the arch of aorta.

The subclavian artery travels laterally towards the axilla. It can be divided into three parts based on its position relative to the anterior scalene muscle:

First part – origin of the subclavian artery to the medial border of the anterior scalene.

Second part – posterior to the anterior scalene.

Third part – lateral border of anterior scalene to the lateral border of the first rib.

At the lateral border of the first rib, the subclavian artery enters the axilla – and is renamed the axillary artery.

Axilla: Axillary Artery

The axillary artery lies deep to the pectoralis minor and is enclosed in the axillary sheath (a fibrous layer that covers the artery and the three cords of the brachial plexus).

Importantly, the artery can be divided into three parts based on its position relative to the pectoralis minor muscle:

First part – proximal to pectoralis minor

Second part – posterior to pectoralis minor

Third part – distal to pectoralis minor

The main branches of the axillary artery include:

The anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries form an anastomotic network around the surgical neck of the humerus and can be damaged in cases of fracture.

At the lower border of the teres major muscle, the axillary artery is renamed the brachial artery.

Upper Arm: Brachial Artery

The brachial artery is a continuation of the axillary artery past the lower border of the teres major. It is the main supply of blood for the arm.

Immediately distal to the teres major, the brachial artery gives rise to the profunda brachii (deep artery), which travels with the radial nerve in the radial groove of the humerus and supplies structures in the posterior aspect of the upper arm (e.g. triceps brachii). The profunda brachii terminates by contributing to an anastomotic network around the elbow joint.

The brachial artery proper descends down the arm. As it moves through the cubital fossa, underneath the bicipital aponeurosis, the brachial artery terminates by bifurcating into the radial and ulnar arteries.

Forearm: Radial and Ulnar Arteries

The radial and ulnar arteries are formed by the bifurcation of the brachial artery within the cubital fossa:

Radial artery – supplies the posterolateral aspect of the forearm. It contributes to anastomotic networks surrounding the elbow joint and carpal bones.

The radial pulse can be palpated in the distal forearm, immediately lateral to the prominent tendon of the flexor carpi radialis muscle.

Ulnar artery – supplies the anteromedial aspect of the forearm. It contributes to an anastomotic network surrounding the elbow joint.

Also gives rise to the anterior and posterior interosseous arteries, which supply deeper structures in the forearm.

These two arteries anastomose in the hand by forming two arches – the superficial palmar arch, and the deep palmar arch.

Hand: Superficial and Deep Palmar Arches

The hand has a rich arterial supply with many anastomoses between vessels. This allows the hand to be perfused even when under high resistance to flow (such as when grasping or applying pressure).

Arterial supply to the hand begins with the ulnar and radial arteries. The ulnar artery enters the hand anteriorly to the flexor retinaculum and laterally to the ulnar nerve. It gives rise to the deep palmar branch and continues laterally across the palm as the superficial palmar arch.

The radial artery enters the hand dorsally, crossing the floor of the anatomical snuffbox. It then turns medially and travels between the heads of the adductor pollicis muscle. The radial artery supplies a branch to the thumb, the index finger and to the superficial palmar arch – it then continues as the deep palmar arch.

As a result, two arterial arches are formed:

Superficial palmar arch – located anteriorly to the flexor tendons in the hand and deep to the palmar aponeurosis. It gives rise to the digital arteries, which supply the four fingers.

Deep palmar arch – located deep to the flexor tendons of the hand. It contributes to the blood supply to the digits and to the wrist joint.