Deep palmer arch patterns in Brazilian individuals

The deep palmar arch is very important in the blood supply to the hand. Con sequently, the radial artery and the deep palmar arch were studied in 60 ha nds from 30 cadavers of adult Brazilian individuals, of both sexes. The cad avers belong to the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil. The hand art eries were injected with red stained latex neoprene: the deep palmar arch w as observed in 59 preparations (98.3%). The arch conformation was classifie d in two groups, according to the course of the radial artery through the i nterosseous spaces from the dorsal to the deep palmar region. In group I th e radial artery passed through the first interosseous space, and was observ ed in 51 preparations (85.0%); in group II, the artery passed through the s econd interosseous space, and was observed in 8 preparations (13.3%). In ea ch group the arches were subdivided according to the number and origin of t he deep palmar branch. In group I the arch was formed by the radial artery anastomosing with one deep palmar branch in 41 cases (68.3%), and with two deep palmar branches in 10 cases (16.7%). These branches originated from th e ulnar artery, ulnar proper palmar digital artery of the little finger or the common palmar digital artery of the fourth interosseous space. In group II the deep palmar arch was formed by the radial artery anastomosing with one deep palmar branch in 7 cases (11.7%) and in only one case (1.7%) with two deep palmar branches. Knowledge of the arterial variations is very impo rtant for surgical procedures in the palmar region.