Dorsal metacarpal arteries

Dorsal metacarpal arteries
Arteries of the back of the forearm and hand. (Dorsal metacarpal visible at bottom center.)
Details
SourceDorsal carpal arch
BranchesDorsal digital arteries
VeinDorsal metacarpal veins
Identifiers
Latinarteriae metacarpales dorsales
TA98A12.2.09.034
TA24648
FMA70800
Anatomical terminology

Most of the dorsal metacarpal arteries arise from the dorsal carpal arch and run downward on the second, third, and fourth dorsal interossei of the hand and bifurcate into the dorsal digital arteries. Near their origin, they anastomose with the deep palmar arch by perforating arteries. They also anastomose with common palmar digital arteries (from the superficial palmar arch), also via perforating arteries.

The first dorsal metacarpal artery arises directly from the radial artery before it crosses through the two heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle.