Palmar arches

Palmar Arches are anatomical structures found in the human hand. They are formed by the anastomosis of the radial artery and the ulnar artery, the two main arteries that supply blood to the hand. The palmar arches are responsible for the distribution of blood to the digits and the muscles of the hand.

Anatomy

There are two main palmar arches: the superficial palmar arch and the deep palmar arch.

Superficial Palmar Arch

The superficial palmar arch is formed primarily by the ulnar artery, with a contribution from the superficial branch of the radial artery. It is located in the palmar aponeurosis, superficial to the long flexor tendons of the digits and the lumbrical muscles.

Deep Palmar Arch

The deep palmar arch is formed primarily by the radial artery, with a contribution from the deep branch of the ulnar artery. It is located deep to the long flexor tendons of the digits and the lumbrical muscles, and superficial to the interosseous muscles and the adductor pollicis muscle.

Clinical Significance

The palmar arches are important in clinical medicine for a number of reasons. They provide collateral circulation to the hand, which can be crucial in cases of arterial occlusion. They are also important landmarks in surgical procedures involving the hand.

See Also

• Hand
• Radial artery
• Ulnar artery
• Anastomosis
• Collateral circulation