Anterior intercostal branches of internal thoracic artery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Artery: Anterior intercostal branches of internal thoracic artery | |
---|---|
Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left | |
Latin | rami intercostales anteriores arteriae thoracicae internae |
Gray's | subject #148 584 |
Source | internal thoracic artery |
Dorlands/Elsevier | r_02/12690359 |
The Anterior intercostal branches of internal thoracic artery supply the upper five or six intercostal spaces.
Two in number in each space, these small vessels pass lateralward, one lying near the lower margin of the rib above, and the other near the upper margin of the rib below, and anastomose with the intercostal arteries from the aorta.
They are at first situated between the pleura and the Intercostales interni, and then between the Intercostales interni and externi.
They supply the Intercostales and, by branches which perforate the Intercostales externi, the Pectorales and the mamma.