Which artery is at risk when inserting a catheter into the arm?

The brachial artery is located in the upper arm and is the major artery supplying blood to the arm. When inserting a catheter into the arm, particularly in the antecubital fossa area, the brachial artery is in close proximity to commonly used access sites. This proximity increases the risk of puncturing or injuring the artery during the procedure.

In contrast, while the radial artery is also present in the arm and can be at risk during certain procedures, it is less commonly associated with large catheter insertions compared to the brachial artery. The femoral artery, located in the groin, and the subclavian artery, found beneath the collarbone, are not relevant to catheterization procedures in the arm, making them less pertinent to this question. Therefore, understanding the relevant anatomy and proximity of the brachial artery to catheter insertion sites elucidates why this vessel is particularly at risk during the procedure.