The posterior humeral circumflex artery (posterior circumflex artery or posterior circumflex humeral artery) arises from the third part of the axillary artery at the distal border of the subscapularis.

Anatomy

Course and relations

It passes posteriorward with the axillary nerve through the quadrangular space. It winds laterally around the surgical neck of the humerus.

Distribution

It is distributed to the shoulder joint, teres major, teres minor, deltoid, and (long and lateral heads of) triceps brachii.

Anastomoses

It forms anastomoses with the anterior humeral circumflex artery, (deltoid branch of) profunda brachii artery, (acromial branches of) suprascapular artery, (acromial branches of) and thoracoacromial artery.

Additional images