Variant origin and course of ulnar artery – a case report

Introduction Variations of the arterial patterns in the upper limb have been the subject of many anatomical studies due to their high incidence. Brachial artery is the main artery of the arm. It is a continuation of axillary artery at the lower border of teres major muscle. It usually terminates at the level of neck of radius in the cubital fossa by dividing into radial and ulnar arteries. The radial artery runs along the lateral part of the front of the forearm with the superficial branch of radial nerve. The ulnar artery passes medially deep to the pronator teres muscle and then runs to the distal part of the forearm together with the ulnar nerve. Superficial ulnar artery is a rare variation of the ulnar artery. It usually arises higher up, either in the axilla or the arm and runs a superficial course in the forearm before entering the hand [1].