Upper limb
Deep palmar arch
Arcus palmaris profundus
- Origin
- Formed mainly by the terminal branch of the radial artery, completed by the deep branch of the ulnar artery
- Insertion
- Lies across the bases of the metacarpal bones deep to the flexor tendons; gives off palmar metacarpal arteries
- Function
- Supplies deep structures of the hand, metacarpals, and interosseous muscles; anastomoses with superficial arch
- Innervation
- Sympathetic perivascular plexus
- Movement & chain
- Anchored against the deep interosseous fascia and bases of metacarpals
- Palpation
- Not palpable due to deep location under flexor tendons
- Clinical
- Crucial collateral system protecting the hand from acute ischemia if one major feeding artery is injured
- Segmental innervation
- C6–C8 segments
- In clinical practice
- Underpins the safety of radial artery interventions provided palmar arch patency is intact (Allen test)
- Region in the model
- Upper limb