The median artery is an artery

Artery

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....

 that is occasionally found in humans and other animals.
It is present in 8% of individuals. When present, it is found in the forearm

Forearm

-See also:*Forearm flexors*Forearm muscles...

, between the radial artery

Radial artery

In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm.-Course:The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm...

 and ulnar artery

Ulnar artery

The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial artery...

. It runs with the median nerve

Median nerve

The median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals. It is in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus....

 and supplies the same structures as that nerve. It may be unilateral or bilateral.

It passes deep to the flexor retinaculum

Flexor retinaculum

Flexor retinaculum may be:* Flexor retinaculum of the hand, the retinaculum flexorum manus* Flexor retinaculum of the foot, the retinaculum musculorum flexorum pedis...

and may terminate at one or more of the palmar arches.

In a deep wrist laceration, such as from a suicide attempt, the median artery may be incised, risking exsanguination.

An individual who does not have a median artery appears to suffer no ill effects.