Profunda brachii artery

The deep brachial artery or profunda brachii artery is a large branch of the brachial artery, located in the arm.

Summary

• origin: brachial artery
• location: posterior aspect of the arm
• supply: triceps brachii
• main branches: middle collateral and radial collateral arteries

Gross anatomy

Origin

The deep brachial artery is a branch of the brachial artery, originating from its posteromedial aspect, distal to the teres major .

Course

The deep brachial artery courses through the radial groove close to the radial nerve, first between the long and medial heads of the triceps brachii, then deep to the lateral head in the spiral groove, before dividing into its terminal branches .

Branches

The main branches of the deep brachial artery are its two terminal branches, the middle collateral and radial collateral arteries . They arise in the posterior muscle compartment in the middle part of the arm.

Supply

The deep brachial artery primarily supplies the triceps brachii. It can also supply the nutrient artery of the humerus .

Variant anatomy

The origin of the deep brachial artery may vary. It may arise at the same origin of the posterior circumflex humeral artery (separately), or from the axillary artery, either proximal to the lattismus dorsi tendon or at the distal aspect of the artery .