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Case Reports
. 2017 Apr-Jun;7(2):143-145.
doi: 10.4103/ijabmr.IJABMR_326_16.

Accessory Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and Bilaterally Variant Vascular Anatomy of Upper Limb: An Unusual Presentation

Sulochana Sakthivel  1 , Suman Verma  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Accessory Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and Bilaterally Variant Vascular Anatomy of Upper Limb: An Unusual Presentation

Sulochana Sakthivel et al. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2017 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

We report a rare combination of variations in the upper limb of a human cadaver. Accessory flexor carpi ulnaris with absent palmaris longus was observed in the left forearm during routine dissection of a male cadaver. Variant vascular pattern was observed bilaterally. Brachial artery bifurcated at a higher level. Ulnar artery gave rise to persistent median artery (PMA) which pierced the median nerve and accompanied it deep into flexor retinaculum to terminate as two common palmar digital arteries. Superficial palmar arch was not formed as the PMA did not anastomose with either the radial or ulnar artery. Radial artery was small and deep palmar arch was mainly contributed by the deep branch of ulnar artery. Awareness of these coexistent variations in the forearm and hand is anatomically as well as clinically important in reconstructive hand surgeries.

Keywords: Accessory flexor carpi ulnaris; deep palmar arch; persistent median artery; superficial palmar arch.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Left forearm: FCU: Flexor carpi ulnaris; AFCU: Accessory flexor carpi ulnaris; UA: Ulnar artery; MN: Median nerve; PMA: Persistent median artery; BA: Brachial Artery; UA: Ulnar artery; RA: Radial artery
Figure 2
Figure 2
Left cubital fossa: PMA: Persistent median artery; MN: Median nerve (reflected); BA: Brachial artery; UA: Ulnar artery; RA: Radial artery; CIA: Common interosseous artery; AIA: Anterior interosseous artery
Figure 3
Figure 3
Left palm: UA: Ulnar artery; PMA: Persistent median artery; PP: Princeps pollicis; RI: Radialis indicis; 1, 2, 3, 4: Common palmar digital arteries
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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