Anterior intercostal branches of internal thoracic artery
Encyclopedia
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 posterior intercostal arteries from the thoracic aorta
.
They are at first situated between the pleura and the Intercostales interni, and then between the Intercostales interni and innermost.
They supply the intercostal muscles and, by branches which perforate the Intercostales externi, the Pectoral muscles
and the mamma
.
Internal thoracic artery
In human anatomy, the internal thoracic artery , previously known as the internal mammary artery , is an artery that supplies the anterior chest wall and the breasts...
then divides into the superior epigastric artery
Superior epigastric artery
In human anatomy, superior epigastric artery refers to a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood and arises from the internal thoracic artery...
and musculophrenic artery
Musculophrenic artery
The musculophrenic artery arises from the internal thoracic artery, directed obliquely downward and laterally, behind the cartilages of the false ribs; it perforates the diaphragm at the eighth or ninth costal cartilage, and ends, considerably reduced in size, opposite the last intercostal space.It...
. 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
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
above, and the other near the upper margin of the rib below, and anastomose with the posterior intercostal arteries from the thoracic aorta
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
.
They are at first situated between the pleura and the Intercostales interni, and then between the Intercostales interni and innermost.
They supply the intercostal muscles and, by branches which perforate the Intercostales externi, the Pectoral muscles
Pectoral muscles
Pectoral muscles can refer to:* Pectoralis major muscle* Pectoralis minor muscle...
and the mamma
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
.