Superior thoracic artery
Blood vessel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The superior thoracic artery (highest thoracic artery) is a small artery[1] located near the armpit.[2] It usually originates from (the first division of) the axillary artery, but can instead originate from the thoracoacromial artery (itself a branch of the second division of the axillary artery). It supplies the pectoralis minor and major muscles, and the chest wall.[1]
SourceAxillary artery
BranchesAnastomoses with intercostal arteries and/or internal thoracic artery
SuppliesSerratus anterior
Latinarteria thoracica superior
| Superior thoracic artery | |
|---|---|
The axillary artery and its branches (superior throracic artery is the upper-rightmost artery) | |
| Details | |
| Source | Axillary artery |
| Branches | Anastomoses with intercostal arteries and/or internal thoracic artery |
| Supplies | Serratus anterior |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria thoracica superior |
| TA98 | A12.2.09.004 |
| TA2 | 4618 |
| FMA | 22668 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Anatomy
Course and relations
It passes anteromedially along medial upper border of the pectoralis before passing between pectoralis minor and pectoralis major to reach the chest wall.[1]
Anastomoses
It forms anastomoses with the internal thoracic artery, and upper intercostal arteries.[1]
