Arteries of the Arm, Posterior View

Description

Posteriorly, the upper limb is laid out from scapula and clavicle at the shoulder girdle to the humerus, ulna, radius, and the metacarpals and phalanges distally. The brachial artery tracks down the posterior-medial aspect of the arm before dividing near the cubital fossa into radial and ulnar arteries that continue into the forearm and hand. Around the elbow, the profunda brachii gives rise to the radial collateral and middle collateral arteries, which anastomose with the radial recurrent and interosseous recurrent branches across the lateral and posterior elbow. Collateral channels dominate this view. That periarticular web matters when the main conduit is interrupted. Ligation or traumatic occlusion of the brachial artery, supracondylar humerus fractures, and elbow dislocations all test the capacity of the elbow anastomoses to maintain distal perfusion, and posterior mapping clarifies which pathways can backfill the radial and ulnar systems. This perspective also helps explain why distal pulses can persist despite proximal injury, and where bleeding may originate when the profunda brachii territory is violated along the radial groove. Use this plate for gross anatomy labs when teaching upper-limb vasculature in relation to the humerus and elbow joint capsule, and for surgical education materials covering vascular considerations in posterior approaches to the arm and elbow. It also fits well in trauma and orthopedic texts discussing collateral circulation after brachial artery compromise. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.