Olutayo Ariyo

Summary

Variants of the median nerve, extra forearm flexor muscles heads are relationships of the persistent median artery (PMA) that have been extensively reported. We report the findings of a PMA (diam. 3.25 mm), a pierced median nerve, and accessory heads of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and flexor policis longus (FPL) muscles coexisting with a brachioradial artery (BRA) (diam.1.8mm) in the left upper limb of a 65 year-old male cadaver. The median nerve provided a ring for the passage of the PMA about the junction of the proximal and middle thirds of the forearm. Both accessory muscles were placed anterior to the ulnar artery, with the brachioradial artery coursing superficially in the brachium and antebrachium. The notable diameter of the PMA may be etiological in the causation of a carpal tunnel syndrome, while the hypoplastic BRA may pose some challenges inits selection as good conduit for catheterization and other surgical interventions like CABG in the upper limb. Additional clinical interest include the possible reduction in blood supply to the hand from the compressive effect of the 2 accessory muscles on the ulnar artery and possible inadvertent drug injection due to the superficial placement of the brachioradial artery close to veins.

KEY WORDS: Persistent median artery; Pierced median nerve; Extra forearm muscle bellies; brachioradial artery; Carpal tunnel syndrome.

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