
The brachialis muscle is located in the upper limb, in the anterior compartment of the arm. The main artery supplying blood to the upper limb is the brachial artery, which is a continuation of the axillary artery. The brachial artery is the main blood vessel supplying blood to the upper arm, elbow, forearm and hand. It is also the main supply of blood to the brachialis muscle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Supply | Arterial blood |
| Continuation of | Axillary artery |
| Location | Medial upper arm |
| Supply | Muscles of the arm, forearm, and hand |
| Terminal branches | Ulnar and radial arteries |
| Blood supply to | Forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers |
| Susceptible to damage | Traumatic injuries |
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What You'll Learn
- The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm
- The brachial artery is the continuation of the axillary artery
- The brachial artery supplies blood to the biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and brachialis muscles
- The radial and ulnar arteries are formed by the bifurcation of the brachial artery
- The brachial artery is prone to damage from traumatic injuries

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm
The brachial artery is located in the anterior compartment of the arm and is closely related to the humerus. It sits medial to the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and brachialis muscles. As it descends, the triceps brachii muscle is positioned posteriorly to the brachial artery. The median nerve is also in close proximity to the brachial artery, with its position varying along the course of the artery.
The brachial artery gives rise to several branches, including the deep brachial artery, which is its first and main branch. The deep brachial artery supplies blood to the humerus bone, deltoid muscle, and triceps muscle. It also accompanies the radial nerve in its course. The superior ulnar collateral artery is the second branch, arising from either the main brachial artery or the deep brachial artery. It supplies blood to the triceps and the elbow joint while running alongside the ulnar nerve.
The brachial artery is important in clinical practice due to its accessibility and vulnerability to injury. It is often used to measure blood pressure and can be accessed for interventional radiology procedures. However, it is susceptible to damage from traumatic injuries, such as fractures, and vascular disorders like aneurysms or blood clots.
Overall, the brachial artery plays a crucial role in delivering oxygen-rich blood to the upper arm and associated structures, making it the major blood vessel in the region.
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The brachial artery is the continuation of the axillary artery
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm. It is a continuation of the axillary artery, which itself begins as the subclavian artery in the chest. The subclavian artery travels laterally towards the axilla, or armpit, and is renamed the axillary artery at the lateral border of the first rib.
The axillary artery lies deep to the pectoralis minor muscle and is enclosed in the axillary sheath, a fibrous layer that also covers the three cords of the brachial plexus. The axillary artery can be divided into three parts based on its position relative to the pectoralis minor muscle. At the lower border of the teres major muscle, the axillary artery becomes the brachial artery.
The brachial artery begins at the inferior border of the teres major tendon and ends at the level of the neck of the radius, about 1 cm distal to the elbow joint. It runs medial to the humerus proximally, before moving anteriorly to lie between the epicondyles of the humerus. The brachial artery is a superficial vessel, covered only by the layers of the skin and the superficial and deep fasciae.
The brachial artery gives rise to several important branches, including the deep brachial artery, which runs between the medial and long heads of the triceps brachii muscle. The brachial artery also gives rise to anastomotic networks of the elbow and the shoulder. At the elbow, the brachial artery divides into the radial and ulnar arteries, which run down the forearm.
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The brachial artery supplies blood to the biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and brachialis muscles
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm, supplying blood to the muscles and other structures in the region. It is a continuation of the axillary artery, which arises from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right and directly from the arch of the aorta on the left.
The brachial artery is responsible for supplying blood to the biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and brachialis muscles. It also provides branches that supply the forearm and hand, including the radial and ulnar arteries, which are its terminal branches. These arteries contribute to the blood supply of the forearm and hand, along with the branches of the radial artery.
The brachial artery is located within the anterior compartment of the arm, which also contains the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and brachialis muscles. It is a relatively subcutaneous structure, lying close to the surface of the skin. This proximity to the surface makes it easily accessible for clinical examinations, such as measuring pulse and blood pressure. However, it also increases the risk of injury, especially in the event of fractures or other traumatic incidents.
The brachial artery has several important relationships with other structures in the arm. It is closely related to the median nerve, which lies lateral or medial to it, depending on the region. Additionally, the artery passes under the lacertus fibrosus and enters the cubital fossa, where it is separated from the median cubital vein by the bicipital aponeurosis.
The deep brachial artery, also known as the profunda brachii artery, is the first and main branch of the brachial artery. It supplies blood to the humerus bone, deltoid muscle, and triceps muscle. The superior ulnar collateral artery and inferior ulnar collateral artery are additional branches that arise from the brachial artery or its deep branch, contributing to the blood supply of the triceps and biceps muscles, respectively.
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The radial and ulnar arteries are formed by the bifurcation of the brachial artery
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm. It is the continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of the teres major muscle. It runs deep to the brachioradialis to give off the radial recurrent artery distal to the elbow joint. The brachial artery is a superficial vessel and is only covered by the layers of the skin, as well as the superficial and deep fasciae, with a few exceptions.
The brachial artery constitutes the main arterial supply of the arm. It gives rise to important anastomotic networks of the elbow and the shoulder. The brachial artery is closely related to the median nerve; in proximal regions, the median nerve is immediately lateral to the brachial artery. Distally, the median nerve crosses the medial side of the brachial artery and lies anterior to the elbow joint.
The brachial artery runs medial to the humerus proximally, before moving more anteriorly to lie between the epicondyles of the humerus. It then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries, which are the two distal continuations of the brachial artery. The radial and ulnar arteries are formed by the bifurcation of the brachial artery within the cubital fossa. The radial artery supplies the posterolateral aspect of the forearm, while the ulnar artery supplies the anteromedial aspect of the forearm.
The radial artery runs between the superficial and deep branches of the radial nerve before it passes, in a superior direction, posteriorly to the brachioradialis muscle and anteriorly to the supinator and brachialis muscles. It supplies the brachioradialis, supinator, and brachialis muscles, as well as the elbow joint. The ulnar artery is the largest of the terminal branches of the brachial artery. Its earliest branch is the ulnar recurrent artery, which subsequently divides into its anterior and posterior branches.
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The brachial artery is prone to damage from traumatic injuries
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel supplying blood to the upper arm, elbow, forearm, and hand. It is a continuation of the axillary artery and begins at the inferior border of the teres major tendon, ending at the level of the neck of the radius about 1 cm distal to the elbow joint. The brachial artery is also the main vessel supplying blood to the muscles in the upper arm and elbow joint, including the biceps brachii muscles, or biceps, and the brachialis muscles behind the biceps.
Furthermore, vascular disorders such as aneurysms, blood clots, or peripheral artery disease (PAD) can also affect the brachial artery, although these are considered rare. Aneurysms, or bulges in weakened arteries, can occur in the brachial artery due to trauma, atherosclerosis, genetic disorders, infective endocarditis, or Kawasaki disease.
Diagnosis of brachial artery injury is typically based on clinical assessment, physical examination, and Doppler ultrasonography. Angiography may also be used, especially in cases of multiple potential vascular injury sites or when arterial injuries are difficult to expose surgically. Surgical repair procedures are often required to manage brachial artery injuries, with successful management reported in most cases unless severe nerve damage is also present.
In summary, the brachial artery is susceptible to damage from traumatic injuries due to its location near the surface of the skin. Traumatic events such as fractures, lacerations, and blunt or penetrating trauma can injure the brachial artery and lead to complications such as acute compartment syndrome and Volkmann's ischemic contracture. While vascular disorders are less common, aneurysms, blood clots, and peripheral artery disease can also affect the brachial artery. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, with successful limb salvage rates reported due to prompt transport, early diagnosis, and improved surgical techniques.
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Frequently asked questions
The brachial artery supplies blood to the brachialis muscle.
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm. It is a continuation of the axillary artery and is located just below the shoulder.
The brachial artery supplies blood to the muscles of the upper arm, elbow, forearm, and hand.
The branches of the brachial artery include the radial artery, ulnar artery, profunda brachii artery, superior ulnar collateral artery, and inferior ulnar collateral artery.









































