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Median artery

Anatomical variant artery

Summary

Anatomical variant artery

Field	Value
Name	Median artery
Image	Median artery.svg
Caption	Median artery in green
Width	100
Location	Forearm, when present
Function	Anatomical variant artery found in 35% of humans and some other animals.

The median artery is an artery that is occasionally found in humans and other animals.

The prevalence was around 10% in people born in the mid-1880s compared to 30% in those born in the late 20th century, and 35% of people born as of 2020; a significant increase in a fairly short period of time, when it comes to evolution. When the median artery prevalence reaches 50% or more, it should not be considered as a variant, but as a ‘normal’ human structure. "This increase could have resulted from mutations of genes involved in median artery development or health problems in mothers during pregnancy, or both. If this trend continues, a majority of people will have median artery of the forearm by 2100."

When present, it is found in the forearm, between the radial artery and ulnar artery. It runs with the median nerve and supplies the same structures as that nerve. It may be unilateral or bilateral.

It passes deep to the flexor retinaculum and may terminate at one or more of the palmar arches.

In a deep wrist laceration, such as from a suicide attempt, the median artery may be incised, risking exsanguination.

An individual who does not have a median artery appears to suffer no ill effects.

References

(2016). "Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice". Elsevier Limited.
(September 10, 2020). "Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change". Journal of Anatomy.
(2020). "Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change". Journal of Anatomy.
"Forearm artery reveals humans evolving from changes in natural selection".
(17 January 2025). "Human Arms Keep Growing an Extra Artery, And Here's Why".
(October 2020). "Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: A microevolutionary change". Journal of Anatomy.
(2 September 2020). "Persistent median artery inside the carpal tunnel: description and surgical implications". Autopsy & Case Reports.

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

arteries-of-the-upper-limb anatomical-variations

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