1) The anterior circumflex humeral artery
Our first candidate, arising from the very trendy axillary artery (famous for its role during the Lincoln assassination by supplying the shooter's arm with a good blood supply)
2) Circumflex scapular artery
Another one from the arm, and probably the most interesting one, because it can actually provide extra circulation to the arm if the axillary artery gets blocked.
3) Circumflex femoral artery
A most important addition to the circumflex ranks. It provides most of the blood supply to the head of the humerous - a fracture at the neck of the femur can stop this supply.
If you have heard of any circumflex arteries, you have probably heard of this one. It supplies much of the left side of the heart.
Awesomely good clinical nugget: When it is damaged, the areas of an ECG that typically show changes are in leads V5, V6 and leads I and aVL.
5) The posterior circumflex humeral artery
Arguably the same category as case number 1, but I wanted to try and make five cases in this blog so here it is:
In case you wanted a good way to remember how to differentiate it from the circumflex femoral artery, remember that it comes off the arm, not the leg.
Know of any other circumflex arteries? Let me know in the comments
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