Quick Facts
Origin: Radial artery.
Course: Distally, along palmar aspect of the first metacarpal.
Branches: Radialis indicis artery.
Supplied Structures: Thumb.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The princeps pollicis artery originates from the radial artery as it enters the palmar aspect of the hand.
Course
The princeps pollicis artery courses distally, on the palmar surface of the first metacarpal bone, deep to the oblique head of the adductor pollicis muscle on the lateral side of the first palmar interosseous muscle. It bifurcates at the proximal border of the proximal phalanx.
Branches
The princeps pollicis artery gives a nutrient branch to the first metacarpal bone and cutaneous branches before its bifurcation. The two terminal branches course between the attachments of the oblique head of the adductor pollicis muscle and run distally on the medial and lateral aspects of the thumb.
Supplied Structures
The princeps pollicis artery supplies the first metacarpal bone, the thumb, and the cutaneous skin on the palmar surface of the thumb.
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Artery
When the artery is occluded blood is forced through the collateral vessels, drastically increasing fluid shear stress and triggering an inflammatory response which drives vessel remodeling.
