High origin of an ulnar artery--development and surgical significance.

Variations in the main arteries of the upper limb are common and these anomalies can be of substantial interest to orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists and anatomists. We present here a case of a high origin of the ulnar artery from the brachial artery found during anatomical dissection of a right upper limb of a 50-year-old man. This superficial ulnar artery, after running over the bicipital aponeurosis in the cubital fossa superficial to the flexor muscles in the forearm terminated as the superficial palmar arch in the hand. The embryological and clinical importance of the anomalous ulnar artery is discussed.