[Anatomy of the arcus volaris profundus of man (author's transl)].

The deep volar arch presents few deviations from the so-called normal arrangement in: Keen's (1961) general survey of the arterial variations of the limbs, no abnormality of the arcus volaris profundus (AVP) is reported even if a fairly rate ruperficial dorsal radial artery is found (1 both sided in our series of 50 specimens). The deep palmar branch may arise from the ulnar artery, either above, or below the hook of the hamate; contrary to Coleman and Anson's (1961) findings, we considered that both vessels rarely join the radial artery together. 3 recurrent twigs were usually encountered running upwards along the carpal interspaces of the 2nd row; they contribute to the arterial carpal network around the capitate and may reach the tubercle of the scaphoid or the triquetrum. On the contrary the arch provided no nutrient vessel for the lunate which was merely supplied by branches descending from the radial and interosseous arteries. Hence no compensatory supply is to be expected through the rete carpi volare once the chief arterial trunks of the forearm are interrupted.