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Large patent median arteries and their relation to the superficial palmar arch with respect to history, size consideration and clinic consequences

  • Anatomic Variations
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Abstract

Background

A large patent median artery can be involved in several clinical disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome, anterior interosseous nerve syndrome and pronator syndrome.

Methods

The frequency and variability in the expression of the median artery and the expression of the other forearm arteries were recorded during two dissection courses. The topography of the arteries with their ramifications was documented on diagrams and photographs. The outer diameters of forearm arteries were measured.

Results

A large median artery was found in 4 of 54 arms (7.4%). The median arteries took their origin from the ulnar artery or the common interosseous artery. In one case, the median artery pierced the median nerve in its course under the pronator teres. The outer diameters of the median arteries varied between 1.5 and 2.0 mm proximally and 1.5 and 2.0 mm distally. The diameters of the radial arteries varied between 3.0 and 5.5 mm proximally and 3.0 and 4.0 mm distally and were not reduced in any of the four cases with a large median artery.

Conclusions

Surgeons should be aware of other variations in the forearm when a persistent median artery is identified, for example high median nerve bifurcations. Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that additional structures leading to nerve compression may be present in the carpal tunnel.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mrs. S. Widmer for the final preparation of the arterial variations in the forearms and Mr. G. Ritschel for the excellent drawings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Große Steinstraße 52, 06097, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Horst Claassen

  2. Institute of Anatomy, University of Rostock, Gertrudenstraße 9, 18055, Rostock, Germany

    Oliver Schmitt & Andreas Wree

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  1. Horst Claassen
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Correspondence to Horst Claassen.

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Claassen, H., Schmitt, O. & Wree, A. Large patent median arteries and their relation to the superficial palmar arch with respect to history, size consideration and clinic consequences. Surg Radiol Anat 30, 57–63 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-007-0290-5

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