Blood Flow of Upper
and Lower Extremities
Arteries and Veins of Upper and Lower Extremities
Arteries of Upper Extremities
• Subclavian Artery
• Axillary Artery
• Brachial Artery
• Radial Artery
• Ulnar Artery
• Deep Palmar Arch
• Superficial Palmar Arch
• Digital Arteries
Arteries of the Upper
Extremities
• Subclavian artery supplies blood to each upper limb. After
passes over lateral boarder of the first rib, it is renamed the:
• Axillary Artery – extends branches to the shoulder and
thoracic region.
• Has many branches (supreme thoracic artery, thoracoacromial
artery, lateral thoracic artery, humeral circumflex arteries and
subscapular artery).
• When passes the inferior boarder of the teres major muscle it is
renamed the:
•
Brachial Artery – Travels alongside humerus.
• Supplies blood to most brachial (arm) muscles.
• Divides into Ulnar and Radial Artery
Arteries of the Upper
Extremities
• Radial and Ulnar Arteries
• Both supply the forearm and wrist before they form two
arterial arches in the palm: superficial palmar arch and deep
palmar arch.
• Superficial Palmar Arch – formed primarily from the
ulnar artery
• Deep Palmar Arch – formed primarily from the radial
artery
• Digital arteries emerge from the arches and supply the
fingers
Veins of Upper Extremities
• Superficial Venous Drainage:
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Dorsal Venous Arch
Basilic Vein
Cephalic Vein
Median Cubital Vein
• Deep Venous Drainage:
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Palmar Venous Arch
Radial Vein
Ulnar Vein
Brachial Vein
Axillary Vein
Subclavian Vein
Veins of the Upper
Extremities
• Superficial Venous Drainage of the Upper Limb:
• On the dorsum of the hand, a Dorsal Venous Arch (or
network) of veins drains into both the basilic vein and
cephalic vein.
• The basilic vein runs adjacent to the medial surface of
the upper limb and eventually helps form the axillary
vein.
• The cephalic vein runs alongside the lateral aspect of
the upper limb and drains into the axillary vein.
Veins of the Upper
Extremities
• Superficial Venous Drainage:
• The Median Cubital Vein connects the cephalic and
basilic veins.
• Common site for venipuncture.
• All superficial veins are highly variable among
individuals.
Veins of Upper Extremities
• Deep Venous Drainage:
• The digital veins and palmar venous arches drain into
pairs of radial and ulnar veins that run parallel to
arteries of the same name.
• At the level of the cubital fossa, the radial and ulnar
veins merge to form a pair of brachial veins that travel
with the brachial artery.
• Brachial veins and the basilic vein merge to form the
axillary vein.
• Superior to the lateral boarder of the first rib, the
axillary vein is renamed the subclavian vein.
Arteries of Lower Extremities
•
External Iliac Artery
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Femoral Circumflex Arteries
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Femoral Artery
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Popliteal Artery
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Anterior Tibial Artery
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Posterior Tibial Artery
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Fibular Artery
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Medial Plantar Artery
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Plantar Arch
Arteries of Lower Extremities
• The external iliac artery is the main arterial supply for the
lower limb.
• Travels inferior to the inguinal ligament, where it is renamed
to the Femoral Artery.
• The Deep Femoral Artery emerges from the Femoral
Artery to supply the hip joint and many of the thigh
muscles before traversing posteromedially along the
thigh.
• The Deep Femoral Artery enters the posteriorly placed
popliteal fossa where it is renamed the Popliteal Artery,
which supplies the knee joint and muscles in this region.
Arteries of Lower Extremities
• The Popliteal Artery divides into:
• Anterior Tibial Artery – supplies anterior compartment of
leg
• At anterior surface of ankle, is renamed Dorsalis Pedis Artery
• Posterior Tibial Artery – supples the posterior compartment
of the leg
• Extends a branch called the fibular artery – which supplies the
lateral compartment leg muscles.
• On planar side of foot, Posterior Tibial Artery branches into:
• Medial and Lateral Plantar Arteries
• The Dorsalis Pedis Artery and a branch of the Lateral
Plantar Artery unite to form the Plantar Arch of the foot
• Digital Arteries extend from the Plantar Arch to supply the
toes.
Veins of Lower Extremities
• Superficial Venous Drainage
• Dorsal Venous Arch
• Great Saphenous Vein
• Small Saphenous Vein
• Deep Venous Drainage
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Anterior Tibial Veins
Posterior Tibial Veins
Fibular Veins
Popliteal Vein
Femoral Vein
External Iliac Vein
Common Iliac Vein
Veins of Lower Extremities
• Superficial Venous Drainage:
• On the dorsum of the foot, a Dorsal Venous Arch (or network)
of veins drains into the:
• Great Saphenous Vein
• Originates in the medial ankle and extends adjacent to the medial
surface of entire lower limb before draining into femoral vein.
• Small Saphenous Vein
• Extends adjacent to the lateral ankle and then travels along the
posterior calf, before draining into popliteal vein.
• These veins have branches that connect to the deeper veins.
• If the valves in these veins become incompetent, varicose veins
develop.
Veins of Lower Extremities
• Deep Venous Drainage:
• The digital veins and deep veins of the foot and ankle drain into
pairs of:
• Anterior Tibial Veins and Posterior Tibial Veins that parallel the
arteries of the same name.
• A pair of Fibular Veins that travel alonside the Fibular Artery
merge to form the:
• Popliteal Vein that accompanies the Popliteal Artery, once in the
anterior portion of the thigh, it is renamed:
• Femoral Vein, once this vein passes superior to the inguinal
ligament it is renamed once again to:
• The External Iliac Vein – this vein merges with the internal iliac
vein in the pelvis to form the:
• Common Iliac Vein, there is a left and right – which merge to
form the inferior vena cava.