- Discussion:
- first major branch of the
brachial artery is the profunda brachii;
- arises from the brachial artery high in the arm, about level w/ lower edge of the
latissimus dorsi tendon (18-25 cm above the medial epicondyle);
- leaves
brachial artery to pass posteriorly company w/
radial nerve ;
- it runs along the spiral groove of the humerus;
- throughout its course, profunda artery & its paired venae comitantes
lie close to the
radial nerve;
- profunda vessels are overlaid by two heads of
triceps (long & lateral head);
- emerging from beneath lateral head of the
triceps, vessels enter
lateral intermuscular septum;
- w/ proximal and posterior approach the
triceps muscle is split between its
lateral and long heads to expose the entire length of profunda brachii vessels in the spiral groove;
- lateral intermuscular septum, which runs from
deltoid insertion to
lateral humeral epicondyle, is formed by investing fasciae of
triceps posteriorly and
brachialis &
brachioradialis anteriorly;
- distal continuation of the profunda artery, the posterior radial collateral artery, runs within
septum and gives off cutaneous branches throughout its length;
