Rare Variation of the Arm Artery: Coexistence with the Superficial Brachial and Superficial Subscapular Arteries in the Absence of the Normal Brachial Artery

Abstract

Summary: A rare variation in the arterial pattern was found in the right arm of an 87-year-old male cadaver in a student dissection practice. In this case, the superficial brachial and superficial subscapular arteries coexisted in the absence of the normal brachial artery (A. brachialis profunda). After branching off a large-sized superficial subscapular artery, the axillary artery did not penetrate the brachial plexus and gave rise to a superficial brachial artery, which arose from the axillary artery at the point between the ansa pectoralis and ansa mediana, and descended ventral to the median nerve branching off the profunda brachii and superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries. The superficial brachial artery finally divided into the radial and ulnar arteries in the cubital fossa. The superficial subscapular artery passed inferior and dorsal to the medial cord of the brachial plexus, giving off the lateral thoracic artery, and then branched off into the thoracodorsal, circumflex scapular and posterior circumflex humeral arteries. Thus the main nerves of the brachial plexus were sandwiched between the superficial brachial artery and the superficial subscapular artery system. The morphological and clinical significance of this variant are discussed.

Three unique variations of the neurovascular course of the profunda brachii artery: a case report

“…Another dissection found the axillary artery giving rise to super cial brachial and super cial subscapular arteries in the absence of a normal brachial artery. The super cial brachial artery then descended anterior to the brachial plexus and branched off a profunda brachii artery, while the super cial subscapular artery passed posterior to the plexus [9]. In another variation, the axillary artery passed normally between the lateral and medial cords, then bifurcated into large super cial brachial and deep brachial arteries [10].…”

Anomalous origin of the deep brachial artery (profunda brachii) observed in bilateral arms: case report

“…Several authors have reported variations in vessels of the upper limb presenting some interesting cases [1][2][3][4][5] . The theory regarding the vascular system development of the upper limb states that it begins at stage 12.…”