SUPERFICIAL BRACHIOULNAR ARTERY AND OTHER VASCULAR VARIANTS IN LEFT UPPER LIMB

Background: Variations in origin, course and distribution of upper limb arteries are well documented and they have a great clinical significance. But the incidence of certain variations like presence of Superficial Brachioulnar Artery (SBUA) is less and its association with other vascular variations in hand are very few. Material: Human male cadaver of about 65 years age, received for student demonstration dissections provided the material for this study. Results & Observations: SBUA originated from brachial artery (BA) in the left upper limb of a human male cadaver. Other vascular variations noted were division of BA into radial artery (RA) and a common trunk (CT) for common interosseous and ulnar recurrent arteries (URA); and variant pattern in completion of Superficial Palmar arch (SPA). Conclusion: Arterial variations of upper limb have been reported to have clinical implications. A variant vessel like SBUA may be encountered during elevation of forearm flaps, or accidental injections of drugs into artery with mistaken identity for a vein, may land in severe complications. Added to these, knowledge of formation of palmar arterial arches and their branching pattern is important in reconstructive surgeries of hand.