Comparison of ulnar and radial arterial blood-flow at the wrist.
Historical descriptions of the ulnar artery as the dominant vessel to the hand appear to be inconsistent with clinical experience. Anatomical dissections and radionucleotide flow studies of the ulnar and radial arteries at the wrist were performed. These failed to demonstrate any difference between the anatomical dimensions of these vessels, but the radial artery was shown to have a statistically greater blood flow compared to the ulnar artery. This finding suggests that, contrary to popular opinion, the radial artery is the dominant vessel to the hand.
Tonks
A M
AM
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hutt Hospital, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Lawrence
J
J
Lovie
M J
MJ
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*