Upper limb
Radial artery
Arteria radialis
- Origin
- Lateral terminal branch of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa
- Insertion
- Passes down the lateral forearm, through the anatomical snuffbox, and forms the deep palmar arch in the hand
- Function
- Major blood supply to the lateral compartment of the forearm, thumb, index finger, and deep palmar structures
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers carried by the superficial branch of the radial nerve
- Movement & chain
- Follows the radius during pronation and supination; superficial at the distal wrist
- Palpation
- Easily palpable at the radial styloid process lateral to the flexor carpi radialis tendon (radial pulse)
- Clinical
- Standard site for arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling and transradial coronary angiography; Allen's test assesses arch patency
- Segmental innervation
- C6–C8 spinal segments
- In clinical practice
- Essential for vital signs monitoring (radial pulse), arterial line cannulation, and interventional cardiology access
- Region in the model
- Upper limb