Arteria princeps pollicis

Looks like

The main artery of the thumb, branching from the radial artery as it enters the palm and running along the thumb's first bone.

What it does

Divides into two arteries along the palm side of the thumb.

Keeping it well

Deep cuts at the base of the thumb can divide it; a pale thumb tip after injury needs urgent surgery.

Related conditions

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• Dupuytren's contracture & trigger finger
• Ganglion cyst
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Repetitive strain & overuse injury
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)