Blood vessels of the arm in 3D

Arteries and veins of the upper limb

The deep brachial artery leaves the brachial artery high in the arm and runs with the radial nerve behind the humerus. Collateral and recurrent branches join around the elbow in an anastomosis. In the forearm the ulnar artery gives off the common interosseous artery, whose anterior and posterior branches lie on either side of the interosseous membrane. The palmar arches send digital arteries to the fingers.

Veins form two systems. Paired deep veins accompany the radial, ulnar and brachial arteries. Superficial veins begin in the dorsal venous network of the hand: the cephalic vein ends in the axillary vein, and the basilic vein joins the brachial veins in the arm.

What the 3D model shows

The model shows the arteries and veins of the right upper limb, with the skeleton as see-through context. Arteries include the brachial and deep brachial arteries, the circumflex humeral and scapular branches, the ulnar collateral and recurrent arteries, the radial, ulnar and interosseous arteries, the superficial and deep palmar arches and the digital arteries. Veins include the cephalic, basilic, median cubital and median antebrachial veins, the radial, ulnar and brachial veins, the dorsal venous network and the palmar venous arches. Separate views show the arteries only and the veins only.

How to study the vessels of the arm

Open the arteries view and follow the main channel from the shoulder: the brachial artery, its division at the elbow, then the radial artery to the deep palmar arch and the ulnar artery to the superficial arch. Rotate to the posterior view to find the deep brachial artery behind the humerus. Switch to the veins view and trace the cephalic and basilic veins up from the back of the hand. Finally show both systems together and name the artery each deep vein accompanies.