Which artery supplies oxygenated blood to the arms?

The subclavian artery is the primary vessel responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to the arms. It branches off from the aorta (on the left) or from the brachiocephalic trunk (on the right) and travels laterally to provide blood flow to the upper extremities. As it progresses towards the arm, the subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery when it passes under the clavicle and then transitions into the brachial artery as it moves into the arm itself.

While the brachial artery, radial artery, and ulnar artery are all important components of the arterial supply within the arm, they branch off from the subclavian artery and serve to supply specific areas within the arm and forearm. Therefore, the subclavian artery is the main source of oxygenated blood, which then distributes this blood through its branches to the arms. Understanding the hierarchy of arterial supply is crucial in interventional radiology for procedures that may involve vascular access or embolization in the upper extremities.