Superior thoracic artery
The superior thoracic artery (highest thoracic artery) is a small artery located near the armpit in humans. It normally arises from the first division of the axillary artery, but may arise from the thoracoacromial artery, itself a branch of the second division of the axillary artery.
| 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 | |
Running forward and medially along the upper border of the pectoralis minor, the superior thoracic artery passes between it and the pectoralis major to the side of the chest.
It supplies branches to the first and second intercostal spaces as well as to the superior portion of serratus anterior.
It anastomoses with the internal thoracic artery and superior two anterior intercostal arteries.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 587 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
External links
- lesson3axillaryart&vein at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
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