Within the elbow, the brachial artery divides into an ulnar and a radial artery. The radial artery, a true continuation of the brachial artery, travels down the radial side of the forearm to the wrist. As it nears the wrist, it rises close to the surface and is a convenient vessel for taking the pulse. At the wrist, branches of the ulnar and radial arteries join to form a network of vessels, which supply the structures in the wrist, hand and fingers. The corresponding radial vein will parallel the artery as it travels back to the heart.
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