A complicated variation of the upper extremity vascularisation.

In the right upper extremity of a cadaver, the radial artery originated from the medial side of the brachial artery at a higher level than usual, which was 16.7 cm below the coracoid process. Then, this artery crossed over the brachial artery, passed to its lateral side and ran to the forearm in front of the aponeurosis of the biceps brachii muscle. The brachial artery ended 1 cm distal to the elbow joint by dividing into the ulnar, anterior interosseous and posterior interosseous arteries. The common interosseous artery was absent. As the radial and ulnar arteries may be used as microvascular donor or recipient vessels, a good knowledge of the arterial vascularisation of the upper extremity is essential in planning surgical and reconstructive procedures in this area. Secondly, the course of the radial artery in our cadaver may be mistaken for a vein and an intravenous injection in such an artery can result in the loss of the hand or forearm.