Cubital anastomosis
Rete articulare cubiti
- Synonym: Periarticular arterial anastomotic network of the elbow
Definition
The rete articulare cubiti (Cubital anastomosis; Periarticular arterial anastomotic network of the elbow) is a well-characterized vascular network that provides collateral circulation around the elbow joint, formed by anastomoses between descending (collateral) branches of the brachial and profunda brachii arteries and ascending (recurrent) branches of the radial, ulnar, and interosseous arteries.
The rete articulare cubiti is organized into three consistent vascular arcades:
Medial arcade: formed by the superior ulnar collateral artery, the inferior ulnar collateral artery, and the posterior ulnar recurrent artery.
Lateral arcade: formed by the radial collateral artery, the middle collateral artery, the radial recurrent artery, and the interosseous recurrent artery.
Posterior arcade: formed by contributions from both the medial and lateral arcades, with the middle collateral artery serving as a key contributor.
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