Vessel
Radial artery
Lateral forearm artery
High-yield
Wrist pulse (radial) lateral to FCR; crosses the anatomical snuffbox floor; chiefly forms the deep palmar arch. Site for arterial lines and the Allen test.
Overview
The smaller terminal branch of the brachial artery running down the lateral forearm; its pulse is felt at the wrist and it forms the deep palmar arch.
Reference facts
- Type
Muscular artery
- Origin
Brachial artery (in the cubital fossa)
- Branches / tributaries
Palmar and dorsal carpal branches; Superficial palmar branch; Princeps pollicis artery
- Supplies
Lateral forearm, wrist, and hand (mainly the deep palmar arch)
- Course
Descends along the lateral forearm, crosses the floor of the anatomical snuffbox, and passes between the heads of the first dorsal interosseous into the palm