Ellis Connor, Thibault Drew, Lencke Josh, Hemric Laurieanne D
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, Virginia, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2025 Mar 31;20(3):e0320288. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320288. eCollection 2025.
The median artery is the initial, yet transient, vascular supply to the palm originating from the brachial artery during development. This artery generally regresses as radial and ulnar arterial supply become prominent; however, this regression does not always occur. This study seeks to illuminate the prevalence of the persistent median artery in the adult population, as well as describe the vascular consequences secondary to the presence of this artery.
Antebrachial and palmar dissections were performed on 56 adult cadavers (112 upper extremities). Prevalence of palmar and antebrachial-type persistent median artery were recorded separately. Arterial diameters of radial and ulnar arteries were measured and statistically examined with and without the co-presence of a persistent median artery.
A persistent median artery was present in 43% of the upper limbs included in this study. 28% of the population were of the antebrachial-type, while 15% were of the palmar-type. The overall mean arterial diameters of the radial artery were 3.13 mm ( ± 0.57 mm; n = 52) without any persistent median artery present, compared to 3.09 mm ( ± 0.56 mm; n = 34) with persistent median artery co-presence. The mean diameters for the ulnar artery were 2.75 mm ( ± 0.53 mm; n = 53) without co-presence of persistent median artery and 2.86 mm ( ± 0.65 mm; n = 36) with co-presence.
This and other studies have demonstrated the prevalence of this persisting embryologic artery to be quite high. An understanding of the characteristics and significance of this artery in the adult population is necessary to surgeons operating on the carpal tunnel or distal antebrachium.
正中动脉是发育过程中源自肱动脉的手掌初始但短暂的血管供应。随着桡动脉和尺动脉供应变得显著，该动脉通常会退化；然而，这种退化并不总是发生。本研究旨在阐明成人中持续正中动脉的患病率，并描述该动脉存在继发的血管后果。
对56具成人尸体（112条上肢）进行前臂和手掌解剖。分别记录手掌型和前臂型持续正中动脉的患病率。测量桡动脉和尺动脉的动脉直径，并在有和没有持续正中动脉并存的情况下进行统计学检查。
本研究纳入的上肢中，43%存在持续正中动脉。28%的人群为前臂型，15%为手掌型。在没有任何持续正中动脉的情况下，桡动脉的总体平均动脉直径为3.13毫米（±0.57毫米；n = 52），而在有持续正中动脉并存的情况下为3.09毫米（±0.56毫米；n = 34）。在没有持续正中动脉并存的情况下，尺动脉的平均直径为2.75毫米（±0.53毫米；n = 53），在有并存的情况下为2.86毫米（±0.65毫米；n = 36）。
本研究及其他研究表明，这种持续存在的胚胎动脉患病率相当高。对于在腕管或前臂远端进行手术的外科医生来说，了解该动脉在成人中的特征和意义是必要的。
