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Volume 10
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10.3390/jfmk10030246
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Article

Superficial Arterial Variants of the Upper Limb: Clinical Implications of High-Origin Ulnar and Radial Arteries Detected by Ultrasound and Anatomy Study

by
Maribel Miguel-Pérez
1,*,
Sara Ortiz-Miguel
2,3,4,
Ana Martínez
1,
Juan Carlos Ortiz-Sagristà
5,
Ingrid Möller
1,
Carlo Martinoli
6 and
Albert Pérez-Bellmunt
3,4
1
Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Bellvitge Campus), University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
2
Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Clinic Campus), University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
3
Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
4
Actium Functional Anatomy Research Group, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
5
Anesthesiology Department, Fundació Puigvert, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
6
Cattedra di Radiologia “R”-DICMI, Universita di Genova, 16126 Genova, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030246 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 May 2025 / Revised: 20 June 2025 / Accepted: 21 June 2025 / Published: 27 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Functional Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Arterial variations in the upper limb, although infrequent, carry critical clinical implications. The presence of superficial ulnar and radial arteries, especially when originating from high levels, increases the risk of iatrogenic injury, misdiagnosis, and surgical complications. To confirm and describe, through ultrasound and anatomical dissection, the presence of a high-origin superficial ulnar artery and a superficial radial artery in a cadaver, highlighting their anatomical trajectory and clinical relevance. Methods: A cross-sectional ultrasound and anatomical study was conducted on 150 upper limbs from fresh-frozen cadavers. High-frequency ultrasound was used to scan the vasculature from the axilla to the wrist. Subsequently, dissection was performed to confirm sonographic findings. Results: One case (0.66%) of concurrent superficial ulnar artery and superficial radial artery was identified in the left arm of a 79-year-old male cadaver. The superficial ulnar artery originated from the axillary artery and coursed superficially along the forearm, anterior to the flexor muscles. The superficial radial artery emerged from the brachial artery and ran subcutaneously in the distal forearm. These arteries remained in close relation to key neural and venous structures, increasing their vulnerability to clinical error. Conclusions: The identification of high-origin superficial arteries is essential for clinical practice. Ultrasound serves as a reliable, non-invasive method for detecting such variations preoperatively. Awareness of these anomalies can prevent inadvertent vascular injuries, improve diagnostic accuracy, and inform safer surgical and anesthetic approaches in upper limb interventions.
Keywords: superficial ulnar artery; radial artery variation; vascular anomalies; ultrasound anatomy; clinical safety; anatomy superficial ulnar artery; radial artery variation; vascular anomalies; ultrasound anatomy; clinical safety; anatomy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Miguel-Pérez, M.; Ortiz-Miguel, S.; Martínez, A.; Ortiz-Sagristà, J.C.; Möller, I.; Martinoli, C.; Pérez-Bellmunt, A. Superficial Arterial Variants of the Upper Limb: Clinical Implications of High-Origin Ulnar and Radial Arteries Detected by Ultrasound and Anatomy Study. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10, 246. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030246

AMA Style

Miguel-Pérez M, Ortiz-Miguel S, Martínez A, Ortiz-Sagristà JC, Möller I, Martinoli C, Pérez-Bellmunt A. Superficial Arterial Variants of the Upper Limb: Clinical Implications of High-Origin Ulnar and Radial Arteries Detected by Ultrasound and Anatomy Study. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2025; 10(3):246. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030246

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miguel-Pérez, Maribel, Sara Ortiz-Miguel, Ana Martínez, Juan Carlos Ortiz-Sagristà, Ingrid Möller, Carlo Martinoli, and Albert Pérez-Bellmunt. 2025. "Superficial Arterial Variants of the Upper Limb: Clinical Implications of High-Origin Ulnar and Radial Arteries Detected by Ultrasound and Anatomy Study" Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 10, no. 3: 246. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030246

APA Style

Miguel-Pérez, M., Ortiz-Miguel, S., Martínez, A., Ortiz-Sagristà, J. C., Möller, I., Martinoli, C., & Pérez-Bellmunt, A. (2025). Superficial Arterial Variants of the Upper Limb: Clinical Implications of High-Origin Ulnar and Radial Arteries Detected by Ultrasound and Anatomy Study. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(3), 246. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030246

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