The anterior humeral circumflex artery (anterior circumflex artery, anterior circumflex humeral artery) is an artery in the arm. It is one of two circumflexing arteries that branch from the axillary artery, the other being the posterior humeral circumflex artery. The anterior humeral circumflex artery is considerably smaller than the posterior and arises nearly opposite to it,[citation needed] from the lateral side of the axillary artery.[1]
| Anterior humeral circumflex artery | |
|---|---|
 The scapular and circumflex arteries (anterior humeral circumflex visible in upper right) | |
 The axillary artery and its branches, including anterior humeral circumflex | |
| Details | |
| Source | Axillary artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria circumflexa humeri anterior |
| TA98 | A12.2.09.016 |
| TA2 | 4630 |
| FMA | 22680 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Anatomy
Course and relations
The anterior humeral circumflex artery passes horizontally posterior to the coracobrachialis muscle and short head of the biceps brachii muscle, in and anterior to of the surgical neck of the humerus. Upon reaching the intertubercular sulcus, it issues off an ascending branch[1] which ascends along the sulcus[citation needed] to supply the head of the humerus and the shoulder-joint. It continues laterally, deep to the long head of the biceps brachii and the deltoideus muscle before anastomosing with the posterior humeral circumflex artery.[1]
Additional images
Anterior humeral circumflex artery
See also
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 589 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
External links
- Anterior humeral circumflex artery at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program
- lesson3axillaryart&vein at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
