Pericardiacophrenic artery
Blood vessel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The pericardiacophrenic artery is a long slender branch of the internal thoracic artery.[1]
| Pericardiacophrenic artery | |
|---|---|
The phrenic nerve and its relations with the vagus nerve. (Pericardiacophrenic artery not labeled, but region is visible.) | |
 The thoracic aorta, viewed from the left side. (Pericardiacophrenic labeled at center left.) | |
| Details | |
| Source | Internal thoracic |
| Vein | Pericardiacophrenic veins |
| Supplies | Pericardium, thoracic diaphragm |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria pericardiacophrenica |
| TA98 | A12.2.08.034 |
| TA2 | 4581 |
| FMA | 3964 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Anatomy
Origin
The pericardiacophrenic artery branches from the internal thoracic artery.[1]
Course
The pericardiacophrenic arteries travel through the thoracic cavity. They course through the fibrous pericardium.[2] The pericardiacophrenic artery accompanies the phrenic nerve between the pleura and pericardium, to the diaphragm.[3] This is where both the artery and the phrenic nerve are distributed.
Distribution
The pericardiacophrenic arteries provide arterial supply to the fibrous pericardium,[2] and (along with the musculophrenic arteries) the diaphragm.[4]
Anastomoses
It anastomoses with the musculophrenic, and superior phrenic arteries.[5]
