Unilateral Aberrant Branch to the Thoracic Region of the Brachial Artery

The brachial artery begins at the lower margin of the tendon of the teres major muscle, and, passing down the arm, ends about 1 cm. below the bend of the elbow, where it divides into the radial and ulnar arteries. Branches of the brachial artery are the profunda brachii artery (also known as the deep brachial artery), nutrient humeral artery, superior ulnar collateral artery, inferior ulnar collateral artery, radial artery (a terminal branch) and ulnar artery (a terminal branch). Superior thoracic artery (highest thoracic artery) is a small vessel normally arising from the first division of the axillary artery and the lateral thoracic artery (or external mammary artery) is a blood vessel that supply to the upper and lateral structures of the thorax and breast. The thoracodorsal artery is a branch of the subscapular artery. It travels inferiorly with the thoracodorsal nerve and also supplies the lateral wall of thorax. We found an aberrant branch of the left brachial artery in an adult, Caucasian, male cadaver during a routine dissection. This aberrant artery originated from brachial artery, 2 cm below of the profunda brachii artery, then course to the thoracic region on the left side. This aberrant branch was divided to superficial and deep branches over the pectoralis major muscle at the lower border of fifth costa. Variations of arterial system in the upper limb are well documented. According to human anatomy text books and available literature, this aberrant branch of the brachial artery is possible very rare and there is no existing text about it. This kind or arterial variations may cause complications during axillary, thoracic or abdominal surgical operations as well as during normal life time of these individuals.