| Medical Dictionary: thoracoacromial artery |
An artery with origin in the axillary artery, with distribution to the muscles and skin of the shoulder and upper chest, and with anastomoses to the branches of the superior, internal, and lateral thoracic, posterior and anterior circumflex humeral, and suprascapular arteries. Also called acromiothoracic artery.
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| Wikipedia: Thoracoacromial artery |
| Artery: Thoracoacromial artery | |
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| Branches of axillary artery, including thoracoacromial artery | |
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| The scapular and circumflex arteries. (Thoracoacromial branch of thoracoacromial labeled at upper right.) | |
| Latin | arteria thoracoacromialis |
| Gray's | subject #149 588 |
| Source | axillary artery |
The thoracoacromial artery (acromiothoracic artery; thoracic axis) is a short trunk, which arises from the forepart of the axillary artery, its origin being generally overlapped by the upper edge of the Pectoralis minor.
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Projecting forward to the upper border of the Pectoralis minor, it pierces the coracoclavicular fascia and divides into four branches—pectoral, acromial, clavicular, and deltoid.
| Branch | Description |
| Pectoral branch | Descends between the two Pectorales, and is distributed to them and to the mamma, anastomosing with the intercostal branches of the internal mammary and with the lateral thoracic. |
| Acromial branch | Runs laterally over the coracoid process and under the Deltoideus, to which it gives branches; it then pierces that muscle and ends on the acromion in an arterial network formed by branches from the transverse scapular (a.k.a. suprascapular), thoracoacromial, and posterior humeral circumflex arteries. |
| Clavicular branch | Runs upward and medialward to the sternoclavicular joint, supplying this articulation, and the Subclavius. |
| Deltoid (humeral) branch | Often arising with the acromial, it crosses over the Pectoralis minor and passes in the same groove as the cephalic vein, between the Pectoralis major and Deltoideus, and gives branches to both muscles. |
Mnemonics used to remember the four branches are "Cadavers Are Dead People" or "ABCD" where Breast (pectoral).[1]
Mnemonics used to remember the four branches are "All Dogs Can Pee" or "ADCP" where P (pectoral).[2]
Mnemonics used to remember the four branches are "CAlifornia Police Department" or "CAPD"
Also used frequently: "packed" (PACD).
 The axillary artery and its branches. |
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 | Deltoid branch of thoracoacromial artery |
| Cephalic vein |
| Lateral thoracic artery |
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 | Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Thoracoacromial artery". Read more |
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