Which artery is primarily responsible for supplying blood to the arms?

The subclavian artery is primarily responsible for supplying blood to the arms. This artery branches off from the aorta (on the left side) or the brachiocephalic trunk (on the right side) and travels beneath the clavicle before giving rise to the axillary artery, which then continues into the arm as the brachial artery.

Its position and branching make it the key vessel that delivers oxygenated blood to the upper extremities, including the shoulders and arms. Understanding the vascular anatomy is crucial for EMTs, as effective patient care often depends on knowledge of how the blood circulates through the body, particularly during trauma or medical emergencies involving bleeding or vascular compromise in the arms.

While the brachial artery is also important for arm circulation, it branches from the subclavian and is not the primary vessel supplying blood to the whole area. The coronary artery, on the other hand, supplies the heart, and the aorta, while the major artery in the body, ultimately does not directly supply blood to the arms as the subclavian artery does.