The median artery is usually a transient vessel during the embryonic period. However, this artery can persist in adult life as the persistent median artery. This paper aims to describe this relevant anatomical variation for surgeons, review the literature and discuss its clinical implications. A routine dissection was performed in the upper left limb of a male adult cadaver of approximately 50-60 years of age, embalmed in formalin 10%. The persistent median artery was identified emerging as a terminal branch of the common interosseous artery with a path along the ulnar side of the median nerve. In the wrist, the persistent median artery passed through the carpal tunnel, deep in the transverse carpal ligament. The dissection in the palmar region revealed no anastomosis with the ulnar artery forming the superficial palmar arch. The common digital arteries emerged from the ulnar artery and the persistent median artery. Such variation has clinical and surgical relevance in approaching carpal tunnel syndrome and other clinical disorders in the wrist.
NatsisK, IordacheG, GigisI, et al. Persistent median artery in the carpal tunnel: anatomy, embryology, clinical significance, and review of the literature.
The anatomy of the arteries of the human body with its applications to pathology and operative surgery. In lithographic drawings with practical commentaries [Internet]. London: Taylor and Walton; 1844. Anatomia Collection: anatomical plates 1522-1867 [cited 2020 Mar 31]. Available from: https://anatomia.library.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/anatomia%3ARBAI075
WalkerFO, CartwrightMS, BlockerJN, et al. Prevalence of bifid median nerves and persistent median arteries and their association with carpal tunnel syndrome in a sample of Latino poultry processors and other manual workers.
SalterM, SinhaNR, SzmigielskiW. Thrombosed persistent median artery causing carpal tunnel syndrome associated with bifurcated median nerve: A case report.
HaładajR, WysiadeckiG, DudkiewiczZ, PolgujM, TopolM. Persistent median artery as an unusual finding in the carpal tunnel: its contribution to the blood supply of the hand and clinical significance.
Pierre-JeromeC, SmitsonRDJr, ShahRK, MoncayoV, AbdelnoorM, TerkMR. MRI of the median nerve and median artery in the carpal tunnel: prevalence of their anatomical variations and clinical significance.
ChenL, ChenJ, HuB, JiangLX. Sonographic findings of the bifid median nerve and persistent median artery in carpal tunnel: a preliminary study in chinese individuals.
ClaassenH, SchmittO, WreeA. Large patent median arteries and their relation to the superficial palmar arch with respect to history, size consideration and clinic consequences.
Facebook
Google+
Twitter
LinkedIn
Mendeley
StumbleUpon
CiteULike
Reddit
Email