Occurrence and fate of palmar type of median artery

Background: The median artery represents a persistent part of the embryonic arterial axis of the upper extremity. It appears mainly as two types: an antebrachial type and a palmar type. The palmar type is of major clinical significance. Method: This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence and fate of the palmar type of the median artery in 19 cadavers. The occurrence was 15.8% and of this two incidences (5.2%) were on the right side and four (10.6%) were on the left side. On the right side, the artery originated from the ulnar and joined with the superficial palmar arch or anterior interosseous artery and communicated with the radial artery. Conclusions: This study concludes that palmar type of median artery is found at a higher incidence than the antebrachial type and that it may be involved in the pronator teres syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and anterior interosseous syndrome.