ulnar artery

arteria ulnaris

The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial artery. It is palpable on the anterior and medial aspect of the wrist. Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein or veins, the ulnar vein or ulnar veins. The ulnar artery, the larger of the two terminal branches of the brachial, begins a little below the bend of the elbow in the cubital fossa, and, passing obliquely downward, reaches the ulnar side of the forearm at a point about midway between the elbow and the wrist. It then runs along the ulnar border to the wrist, crosses the transverse carpal ligament on the radial side of the pisiform bone, and immediately beyond this bone divides into two branches, which enter into the formation of the superficial and deep volar arches. [WP,unvetted].

Type Bone
Structure parente artery
Nom latin arteria ulnaris
FMA ID 22796

Questions fréquentes

What is the ulnar artery?
The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel of the medial forearm. It is the larger of the two terminal branches of the brachial artery, arising in the cubital fossa and running along the medial side of the forearm to the wrist and hand.
Where does the ulnar artery originate and terminate?
The ulnar artery arises from the brachial artery at the cubital fossa opposite the neck of the radius. It passes distally along the medial forearm, crosses the wrist lateral to the pisiform bone, and terminates by forming the superficial palmar arch in the palm.
What important branches does the ulnar artery give off?
The ulnar artery gives off the anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries (forming anastomoses around the elbow), the common interosseous artery (which divides into anterior and posterior interosseous arteries supplying the deep forearm), and the deep palmar branch in the hand.
Where can the ulnar artery be palpated?
The ulnar artery is palpable at the medial aspect of the wrist, lateral to the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris and the pisiform bone. Its pulse at this location is used in the Allen test to assess hand circulation.
What structures run alongside the ulnar artery?
The ulnar nerve runs alongside the ulnar artery throughout its course in the forearm and wrist, entering the hand together through Guyon's canal (ulnar canal) at the wrist. Both structures are enclosed within the flexor carpi ulnaris compartment distally.

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.