The posterior interosseous artery in the distal part of the forearm The posterior interosseous artery in the distal part of the forearm. Is the term ‘recurrent branch of the anterior interosseous artery’ justified?  Martin G. Hubmer, Thomas Fasching, Franz Haas, Horst Koch, Franz Schwarzl, Andreas Weiglein, Erwin Scharnagl  British Journal of Plastic Surgery  Volume 57, Issue 7, Pages 638-644 (October 2004) DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2004.06.011

Figure 1 Measure points. P1: At the point of emergence of the dorsal branch of the anterior interosseous artery. P2: The apex of the anastomotic arch between the AIA and AIP. P3: At the origin of the septocutaneous perforator or, in the case of two or more perforators, the origin of the most proximal perforator. P4: At the point of emergence of the posterior interosseous artery in the dorsal compartment. British Journal of Plastic Surgery 2004 57, 638-644DOI: (10.1016/j.bjps.2004.06.011)

Figure 2 The posterior interosseous artery is only present in the proximal part of the forearm. There is no vascular arcade at wrist level, a very prominent dorsal branch of the anterior interosseous artery runs straight through the fifth dorsal compartment. British Journal of Plastic Surgery 2004 57, 638-644DOI: (10.1016/j.bjps.2004.06.011)

Figure 3 The dorsal branch of the anterior interosseous artery crosses the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) dorsally and passes then the extensor indicis proprius (EIP) volarly. It then runs in the septum between the extensor digiti minimi (EDM) and the extensor carpi ulnaris to anastomose with the posterior interosseous artery. British Journal of Plastic Surgery 2004 57, 638-644DOI: (10.1016/j.bjps.2004.06.011)

Figure 4 Different types of the vascular arch at wrist level. The branches through the forth dorsal compartment and to the radius are only shown in type A. British Journal of Plastic Surgery 2004 57, 638-644DOI: (10.1016/j.bjps.2004.06.011)