Veterinary Gross Anatomy-II

MEDIAN ARTERY

• The median artery is the continuation of the brachial artery below the level of the medial condyle of the humerus.
• It passes along the posteromedial face of the radius and divides at variable distances down the forearm into radial and ulnar arteries.

Collateral branches (View the vascular pattern of the median artery)

• A long muscular branch to supply pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, superficial and deep flexor of the digit.
• Common interosseous artery: It is a large branch, which arises from the median artery in the upper third of the forearm. It passes through the proximal interosseous space and continues as the dorsal interosseous artery.
• Before it enters the proximal interosseous space, it gives branch to the humeral and radial heads of the deep flexor of the digit; as it passes through the space, it supplies the digital extensor carpi obliques.
• The dorsal interosseous artery runs down the groove between the radius and ulna on the lateral face of the forearm under the periosteum.
• It reaches the level of the distal interosseous space detaches a branch which enters this space continues downward course and concurs in the formation of the rete carpi dorsale.
• The branch detached by it, passes through the distal interosseous space gains the volar face of the forearm gives branches to the rete capi volare and is continued down as the lateral deep volar metacarpal artery.
• This is an extremely fine vessel which passes along the lateral border of the suspensory ligament and by joining the middle deep volar metacarpal and medial deep volar metacarpal arteries forms the deep volar arch above the fetlock, between the bone and the suspensory ligament and is continued as lateral volar digital artery on the lateral digit.

• The terminal branches of the median artery are radial and ulnar artery.