Armarteria

Armarteria is a term that appears in some sources to denote the arterial supply of the upper limb. It is not a standard term in modern anatomy; most authorities refer to the upper limb arterial system, the axillary–brachial–radial/ulnar arterial chain, or simply the brachial arterial system.

Anatomy: The arterial supply begins with the subclavian artery, which becomes the axillary artery as it passes the lateral border of the first rib. The axillary artery continues as the brachial artery after passing the inferior border of the teres major. The brachial artery gives off branches such as the profunda brachii and small circumflex humeral arteries, and descends in the arm toward the elbow. At the elbow it typically divides into the radial and ulnar arteries, which supply the forearm and hand. The shoulder region is supplied by branches of the axillary artery, including the posterior and anterior circumflex humeral arteries and the thoracoacromial and lateral thoracic arteries. The forearm has a rich collateral network linking the radial, ulnar, and interosseous arteries, culminating in the palmar arches that nourish the hand.

Clinical relevance and variations: Knowledge of the upper limb arterial system is important in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, and procedures such as arterial cannulation and grafting. Anatomical variants—such as high divisions of the brachial artery, accessory arteries, or persistent median artery—occur in a minority of individuals and can affect access routes or risk of complications.

Development and terminology: In embryology, the major arteries of the upper limb arise from the axis artery and subsequent remodeling. The term armarteria is rarely used in current textbooks; when encountered it is typically used informally to refer to the arm's arterial supply rather than as an official anatomical designation.