Abstract
Although arterial variations in the upper limb are usually found during anatomical dissections and clinical practice, multiple arterial variations associated with nervous variations along the limb is rare and clinically relevant. This paper described a combined anatomical variation involving the neurovasculature in the upper limb. A left upper limb dissection of a male cadaver with approximately 50–60 years of age, fixed in 10% formalin, was performed. During the dissection was observed, the brachial artery ending in the middle third of the arm in three branches: a nutritional branch for the biceps brachii muscle, a “lateral brachial artery” and a “medial brachial artery”, which became, after unusual paths crossing over the cubital fossa, the ulnar artery and the radial artery, respectively. Radial and ulnar artery demonstrated several unusual anastomotic branches, respectively, and an anastomotic arch around the biceps brachii muscle tendon. Such combined anatomical variation is unique and relevant for clinical and surgical practice.
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Acknowledgments
The authors greatly appreciate the technicians of the Department of Morphology (Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo) for their assistance with the materials. We would like to express gratitude for the anonymous individual who generously donated his body so that this study could be carried out.
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All authors contributed to the study conception, design, and approved the final manuscript. JHFL performed material preparation and dissection. JSB carry out the data collection, data interpretation, and supervised the work. JGA reviewed the literature, contributed to data analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript.
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Alexander, J.G., de Fúcio Lizardo, J.H. & da Silva Baptista, J. Multiple arterial variations in the upper limb: description and clinical relevance. Anat Sci Int 96, 310–314 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-020-00569-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-020-00569-5