The radial artery is the smaller of the two terminal branches of the median artery. It descends along the medio-volar border of the radius under the flexor carpi radialis, passes down subcutaneously over the posterior aspect of the carpus under the deep fascia but out side the carpal canal and is continued down as the medial deep volar metacarpal artery.
This radial artery gives branches to the formation of the rete carpi dorsale and volare and another branch, which passes between the suspensory ligament and the large metacarpal bone.
- This branch gives off the middle deep volar metacarpal artery and then passes through the foramen at the proximal part of the groove to anastomose with the dorsal metacarpal artery.
- The middle deep volar metacarpal artery descends down the volar longitudinal groove of the large metacarpal bone and concurs with the branch of medial deep volar metacarpal artery in the formation of the deep volar arch above the fetlock, between the bone and the suspensory ligament.
- The medial deep volar metacarpal artery passes along the medial border of the suspensory ligament, gives off fine branches to the tendons and suspensory ligament and skin and at the distal third it gives off a branch with which the branches of the volar common digital forms the superficial volar arch and another branch to the deep volar arch. It is continued down as the medial volar digital artery on the medial digit.
