The brachial artery bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries at the level of the radial neck in the antecubital fossa, with high bifurcation (in the axilla or upper arm) occurring in approximately 15% of individuals. The bifurcation pattern determines antecubital vascular anatomy for surgical planning.
High bifurcation of the brachial artery occurs when the radial artery takes its origin in the axilla or upper arm rather than the antecubital fossa. This variant must be identified before antecubital fossa surgery — a superficially placed radial artery may be mistaken for a vein. In trauma, knowledge of the bifurcation level determines whether forearm ischaemia after elbow injury is from radial or brachial artery injury.
Radial artery origin in the upper arm rather than antecubital fossa occurring in 15% of individuals, relevant in antecubital surgical approaches and arterial cannulation where the vessel may be superficially placed.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
