Unilateral high bifurcation of brachial artery: a cadaveric case report

Abstract

The brachial artery is the chief artery irrigating upper limb. In standard conditions, the artery is continuation of axillary artery and commences at the lower border of the teres major muscle. The artery terminates at the level of neck of radius by dividing into radial and ulnar artery. But brachial artery undergoes multiple variations including high bifurcation into radial and ulnar arteries. The high division of brachial artery may take place in upper, middle and lower part of arm. The incidence of cranial bifurcation of brachial artery is reported to be 10.05%. The variation may affect the outcome of invasive procedures like catheterization, angiography, vascular and reconstructive surgeries. During routine dissection of right upper limb for first year MBBS students of 2025-26 batch, authors found brachial artery dividing into radial and ulnar arteries in upper arm. Rest of the course of radial and ulnar arteries as described in conventional literature. In the contralateral limb, there was no anomaly. The knowledge of high division of brachial artery will be of utmost use to cardiac surgeons carrying out catheterization for uneventful procedure, for radiologist to avoid misinterpretation of radiographs and for vascular surgeons to avoid complications.