| Artery: Anterior intercostal branches of internal thoracic artery | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left | |
| Latin | rami intercostales; anterior intercostal arteries |
| Gray's | subject #148 584 |
| Source | internal thoracic artery |
| Drain | anterior intercostal veins |
The Anterior intercostal branches of internal thoracic artery supply the upper five or six intercostal spaces. The internal thoracic artery then divides into the superior epigastric artery and musculophrenic artery. The latter gives out the remaining anterior intercostal branches.
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 intercostal muscles and, by branches which perforate the Intercostales externi, the Pectoral muscles and the mamma.
External links
 |
This cardiovascular system article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
