Which artery is used to draw larger blood volumes?

• A. Radial artery
• B. Brachial artery
• C. Femoral artery
• D. Carotid artery

Answer: (B)

Drawing arterial samples hinges on the size of the artery and safety of access. The brachial artery in the upper arm is larger than the radial artery, so it can yield a greater volume of blood in a single puncture while still being reasonably accessible. The radial artery, being smaller, provides less blood. The femoral artery is larger but carries higher risks of major bleeding, infection, and complications near the groin, and the carotid artery poses significant risk to the brain, so it’s avoided in routine practice. For situations needing a larger arterial volume, the brachial site offers the best balance of size and safety among these options.