what is the function of the brachial artery course hero

Full Answer

What is the function of the brachial artery?

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel supplying blood to your upper arm, elbow, forearm and hand. It starts in your upper arm, just below your shoulder, and runs down through the crease in front of your elbow. It separates into several branches along its route.

Why do Surgeons compress the brachial artery?

Surgeons may also need to apply compression of the brachial artery to control blood loss in trauma patients. This is done proximal (above) the site of injury, and, when clamped distal (further down) to the brachial artery, there’s little risk of tissue damage because other arteries can still access the area. 3 

Where does the brachial artery run through the elbow?

Sometimes the brachial artery runs more medially—that is more towards the middle—of the elbow, accessing the medial epicondyle of the humerus, which is the rounded part of the bone.

What does the profunda brachii artery supply?

Profunda brachial artery: An important, deeper artery, the profunda brachii arises just below the shoulder’s Teres major muscle and follows the radial nerve, which provides signals and messaging to the triceps on the back of the arm. It provides blood to the deltoids, wrapping around the triceps.

Why is the brachial artery important?

Because the brachial artery serves such an important role in providing blood to the upper limbs, it can be involved in a number of disorders or conditions. In addition, it can be affected by injury to the area and, in fact, is the most-often injured artery of the upper body due to its vulnerability 3  .

What is the brachial artery?

The brachial artery is the most important source of blood to the arm and hand and is an essential component of the circulatory system. It connects the lower margin of the Teres major tendon in the shoulder to the elbow. Working its way down the upper arm, it becomes part of the cubital fossa, a triangular depression on the inside ...

What is the ankle brachial index?

The ankle-brachial index measures blood pressure in the ankle as well as the brachial artery to test for peripheral artery disease (PAD) in a non-invasive manner. PAD is when one or more arteries that supply blood to the limbs become blocked, most often due to atherosclerosis, or the build-up of plaque in vessels.

Why is the brachial artery placed on the elbow?

Because the brachial artery is just below skin level —especially around the elbow —doctors use it to measure blood pressure. This explains why the inflatable cuff of the standard blood pressure gauge is placed on the elbow.

Where is the brachial artery located?

A continuation of the axillary artery in the shoulder, the brachial artery runs along the underside of the upper arm, terminating about a centimeter past the elbow joint. Largely this artery is just below the skin as well as both superficial and deep fascia, which are layers of dense, connective tissue.

Which artery runs more medially?

Like all parts of the vascular system, there is a variation from person to person. Sometimes the brachial artery runs more medially—that is more towards the middle—of the elbow, accessing the medial epicondyle of the humerus, which is the rounded part of the bone.

Where is the Ulnar artery?

Ulnar artery: Starting at the cubital fossa at the end of the brachial artery, the ulnar artery runs through the second and third layers of the flexor muscles in the forearm. It then proceeds above the flexor retinaculum at the wrist, a fibrous band that bends over the carpal bones to form the carpal tunnel, and becomes ...