Shahoud James S., Burns Bracken
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Med.
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
The internal thoracic artery, aka the internal mammary artery, supplies the breast and the anterior chest wall. The internal thoracic artery travels along the inner surface of the anterior chest wall on both sides. When it reaches the sixth or seventh intercostal cartilage, it divides into two branches: the musculophrenic and the superior epigastric arteries. The internal thoracic artery arises a few centimeters away from the origin of the subclavian artery. The artery then descends along the inner wall of the anterior rib cage. It is located about two to three centimeters on either side of the sternum and is slightly medial to the nipple. It is almost always accompanied by the large internal thoracic veins that also follow the same course. The internal thoracic artery runs under the fascia and deep to the intercostal muscles. In the proximal part, the internal thoracic artery also gives off other vessels which supply the breast, thymus, mediastinum, and sternum. At each intercostal rib, it gives off an anterior and posterior branch. The internal thoracic artery can be seen pulsating in some cases. It continues its downward course until it reaches the seventh intercostal space and then gives off the superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries. The superior epigastric artery continues inferiorly along the abdominal wall until it travels just below the umbilicus, where it connects with the inferior epigastric artery. The musculophrenic artery follows the costal margin and supplies the diaphragm.
胸廓内动脉，又称乳房内动脉，为乳房和前胸壁供血。胸廓内动脉沿两侧前胸壁的内表面走行。当它到达第六或第七肋软骨时，分为两支：肌膈动脉和腹壁上动脉。胸廓内动脉在距锁骨下动脉起始处几厘米处发出。然后该动脉沿胸廓前壁的内壁下行。它位于胸骨两侧约2至3厘米处，略在乳头内侧。它几乎总是伴有走行相同的粗大胸廓内静脉。胸廓内动脉走行于筋膜下方、肋间肌深层。在近端，胸廓内动脉还发出其他血管，为乳房、胸腺、纵隔和胸骨供血。在每根肋间肋处，它发出一支前支和一支后支。在某些情况下，可以看到胸廓内动脉搏动。它继续下行，直至到达第七肋间间隙，然后发出腹壁上动脉和肌膈动脉。腹壁上动脉沿腹壁继续下行，直至走行于脐下方，在此处与腹壁下动脉相连。肌膈动脉沿肋缘走行，为膈肌供血。
