braquial

Braquial is an anatomical term describing structures associated with the upper arm, the region between the shoulder and the elbow. It is used to name muscles, nerves, vessels and other tissues located in or passing through the arm. The word derives from Latin brachialis, from brachium, meaning arm.

In arterial terms, the brachial artery is the main vessel of the upper limb. It continues from the axillary artery at the lower border of the teres major muscle and descends in the upper arm. It gives off the profunda brachii (deep brachial) artery and travels with accompanying veins. At the elbow, the brachial artery typically divides into the radial and ulnar arteries. Its pulse is commonly palpated in the antecubital fossa as part of routine vascular assessment.

The term braquial is also used for accompanying structures in the same region, such as the brachial vein. The brachial region is closely associated with the brachial plexus, the network of nerves that supplies most of the upper limb. Major nerves that originate from or relate to this region include those that form the arm’s motor and sensory innervation, such as musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, radial and axillary components. Clinically, the braquial region is relevant for vascular access, blood pressure measurement, and evaluation of injuries to the upper limb.