Complex Variations in Branching Pattern of the Axillary Artery and Hands with the Persistent Median Artery

Abstract

: We report bilateral multiple variations in branching pattern of the axillary artery and superficial palmar arch of the hand in an 84-year-old Korean female cadaver. First, we identified an aberrant trunk with high bifurcation of the deep brachial artery from the left axillary artery. Second, the persistent median artery accompanied with a median nerve and formed the superficial palmar arch in the left hand. Third, a common trunk was originated from the second part of the right axillary artery, and divided into lateral thoracic, subscapular, and circumflex humeral arteries, respectively. Finally, the superficial palmar branch of radial artery lies superficial to the thenar muscles and gave rise to a common trunk of the princeps pollicis and radialis indicis arteries on both hands. This case report alerts clinicians and anatomists to the possibility of concurrent complex bilateral variations in the upper limb.