Did you know these things about the main blood vessel in your arm (Brachial Artery)?

Have you ever gone to the doctor and had your blood pressure checked with a cuff? That's a must, right? Or have you ever seen the doctor place his fingers just above your elbow to check your pulse? Both of those things are done by a very important, major blood vessel in our arm. That's what we're going to talk about today. In medical terms, we call this blood vessel the 'brachial artery '.

Simply put, what is the Brachial Artery?

It's very simple. The brachial artery is the main blood vessel that starts just below your shoulder, goes through your elbow, and carries oxygenated blood to your forearm. Like the main water pipe that carries water from a water tank to your house, this blood vessel is the lifeblood of our entire arm.

It starts near the shoulder, runs down the inside of your upper arm, and ends at the crease of your elbow. It then splits into two smaller branches and runs down your forehead.

What is the function of this brachial artery? Why is it important?

The main function of this blood vessel and its branches is to supply clean blood to the upper parts of our arms. That is:

• Biceps muscle: The muscle that comes up when we bend our arm.
• Brachialis muscle: The muscle underneath the biceps.
• Triceps muscle: The muscle on the back of the arm.
• Elbow joint: Our elbow.

The bones, muscles, nerves, and skin in our arms all need oxygen and nutrients to function and heal when injured. They get these things from the blood. So, the brachial artery distributes clean, oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all these areas.

How is this used for medical tests and treatments?

This blood vessel is very important to doctors.

1. Blood Pressure Check: As I mentioned earlier, the cuff that is placed on your arm compresses the brachial artery. This is how your blood pressure is measured.

2. Some surgeries and tests (Interventional Procedures): Sometimes, when treating problems with the blood vessels of the heart (e.g. blood clots, blocked blood vessels), a very thin tube (catheter) is inserted through the brachial artery and passed close to the heart, without doing major surgery. This is a very convenient method for the patient.

3. Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test: This is a very simple test. It compares the blood pressure measured in the brachial artery in your arm with the blood pressure measured near your ankle. If you have reduced blood flow to your legs, it could be a sign of a condition called Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) . This test can help diagnose it.

How is the brachial artery formed?

Like all other arteries, the brachial artery is made up of three main layers. Let's take a look at what they are.

What are the main branches that branch off from this?

Several smaller, tube-like branches branch off from the main artery, the brachial artery.

• Deep brachial artery: This is the first and main branch. It supplies blood to the large bone in our arm (humerus), the muscles of the shoulder, and the triceps muscle.
• Superior ulnar collateral artery: The second branch. This supplies blood to the triceps and parts of the elbow.
• Inferior ulnar collateral artery: The third branch. This supplies blood to the biceps and brachialis muscles.

Finally, near the elbow, the brachial artery divides into two main branches , the radial and ulnar arteries. These two carry blood to our forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers.

What conditions can affect the brachial artery?

Because this blood vessel is located very superficially, that is, close to the skin, it can be easily susceptible to certain accidents and medical conditions.

1. Trauma: Imagine, if you break a bone in your arm (arm fracture) from a car accident or a fall, or if you cut your arm deeply with a sharp object (laceration), there is a high chance that this brachial artery will be damaged. If that happens, it can cause excessive bleeding.

2. Compartment Syndrome: This is a more serious condition. A serious injury to the hand, surgery, or internal bleeding can cause excessive swelling around the muscles of the hand. This swelling causes the blood vessels to constrict, cutting off blood flow to the muscles and causing them to die. This is a condition that requires emergency treatment. If left untreated, it can lead to a condition called Volkmann Ischemic Contracture , in which the hand and fingers become stiff and permanently disabled.

3. Aneurysms: An aneurysm is a weakening of the wall of a blood vessel, causing it to bulge like a balloon. This condition occurs very rarely in the brachial artery. Most often, it is caused by an accident. However, sometimes it can be caused by things like fatty deposits in the blood vessels ( atherosclerosis ), genetic diseases, and heart infections.

4. Arm Artery Disease: Most often, PAD occurs in the legs. However, it can also occur in the arms. This is caused by a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body (usually in the heart) breaking loose and getting stuck in a blood vessel in the arm.

How can I keep my brachial artery healthy?

There are some simple things you can do to keep not only your brachial artery, but your entire body's vascular system healthy.

• Eat a good, balanced diet. Reduce foods high in oil, salt, and sugar as much as possible.
• Exercise regularly. Even just walking for 30 minutes a day is a big deal.
• If you have diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol , follow your doctor's instructions and take your medication on time.
• If you smoke, stop immediately. The damage that smoking does to blood vessels is very serious.
• Limit alcohol consumption.

When should you see a doctor immediately?

If you have the following symptoms, it could be a sign of a blood clot in your arm. You should go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately .

If you have any pain, numbness, or anything unusual in your hand, never be afraid to talk to your family doctor about it.

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