Asymmetric bilateral radial artery variations with embryological view: A case report

Purpose: Similar to other parts of the body, variations in the arterial pattern of the upper limbs have been reported in different studies. According to the different stages of arterial system development, variations are created owing to disturbances in this process. Therefore, each variation could be justified based on the formation method. One of the most important arteries of the upper limb is the radial artery, which forms in several stages. Therefore, variations in this artery with a different origin from the normal state can be observed. However, its origin in the axillary artery is rare. Methods In this report, during the dissection of a 45-years-old man, variation in the origin of the radial artery was seen bilaterally. Result This arterial pattern was asymmetric and was seen as follows: On the right side, the radial artery was separated from the axillary artery on the medial side of the artery. It runs parallel to the brachial artery on its medial side, crossing it at the cubital fossa. On the left side, the radial artery was separated from the lateral side of the brachial artery in the middle of the arm and enters the forearm by passing through the external side of the arm. Conclusion The brachial and radial arteries are the most important arteries in the upper limbs for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. Therefore, knowledge of the types of arterial variations and their frequencies can play an effective role in preventing medical errors.