An unusual variation of the superficial ulnar artery

Anomalous superficial ulnar arteries were found bilaterally during routine dissection of the upper limbs of a 60-year-old male cadaver. In the left ar m, the superficial ulnar artery originated from the axillary artery. It cro ssed the median nerve anteriorly and ran anteromedial to this nerve and the brachial artery. The superficial ulnar artery was also rudimentary and gav e rise to only a narrow muscular branch to the biceps brachii. In the hand, it anastomosed with the radial artery, completing the superficial palmar a rch. The radial artery was larger than usual and the deep palmar arch was f ormed only by the radial artery. In the right arm, the superficial ulnar ar tery originated from the brachial artery at the level of the inter-epicondy lar line. Additionally there were "inverse palmaris longus muscles" bilater ally. This was a rare case in which the superficially ulnar artery originat ed from a different source on each side accompanied by anomalies of the pal mar arches on one side.