Radial artery
Arteria radialis
CardiovascularBlood vesselsArmLeft and right
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- What it is
- The smaller terminal branch of the brachial artery, running down the lateral (thumb) side of the forearm under brachioradialis to the wrist, where it lies on the distal radius, then winds through the anatomical snuffbox into the palm to form the deep palmar arch.
- Function
- Supplies the lateral forearm, the thumb and the deep palmar arch of the hand.
- Size
- ~2–3 mm diameter; ~20 cm long.
- Clinical note
- The radial pulse is felt just lateral to the flexor carpi radialis tendon; it is the usual route for coronary angiography and for arterial blood-gas samples.