Relations of Brachial Artery
The brachial artery is superficial throughout its course and forms a neurovascular bundle with the median nerve.
Anteriorly
- Upper part: related to the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm, which lies in front of it.
- Middle of the arm: crossed by the median nerve, which passes from the lateral to the medial side of the artery here.
- In the cubital fossa: covered by the bicipital aponeurosis and the median cubital vein.
Posteriorly
From above downwards, the brachial artery lies successively on:
- Long head of triceps
- Medial head of triceps
- Coracobrachialis
- Brachialis
In the upper part, it is also related posteriorly to the radial nerve and the profunda brachii artery (before these pass into the radial groove).
Medially
- Upper part: related to the ulnar nerve and the basilic vein.
- Lower part: related to the median nerve.
Laterally
- Upper part: related to the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and the median nerve.
- At the elbow: related to the tendon of biceps brachii.
Relation with the Median Nerve (Summary)
The median nerve is closely related to the brachial artery throughout the arm:
- Upper part: median nerve lies lateral to the artery.
- Middle of arm: median nerve crosses in front of the artery, from lateral to medial side.
- Lower part to elbow: median nerve lies medial to the artery.
Structures at the Elbow (Cubital Fossa) — Medial to Lateral
| Order | Structure |
|---|---|
| 1 (most medial) | Median nerve |
| 2 | Brachial artery |
| 3 | Biceps brachii tendon |
| 4 (most lateral, deeper plane) | Radial nerve |
Mnemonic: MBBR — Median nerve, Brachial artery, Biceps tendon, Radial nerve (medial to lateral).