Arora Yingyot, Sapra Amit
University of Miami / Miller School
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
The axillary artery has three divisions, based on relative positioning to the pectoralis minor muscle. The superior thoracic artery, also referred to as the supreme thoracic artery, is the first branch of the axillary artery. This artery courses anteriorly and medially along the superior border of the pectoralis minor muscle. The superior thoracic artery then passes between the lateral aspect of the chest and the pectoralis minor muscle. Typically, this artery proceeds to anastomose with the intercostal and the internal thoracic artery. However, there are several physiological variants in both the origin and anastomoses of this artery. In most individuals, it is the only branch of the first division of the axillary artery. The superior thoracic is a small artery that can usually be palpated two finger widths below the clavicle on the midclavicular line.
腋动脉根据其与胸小肌的相对位置可分为三段。胸上动脉，也称为最高胸动脉，是腋动脉的第一分支。该动脉沿胸小肌上缘向前内侧走行。然后胸上动脉在胸壁外侧和胸小肌之间穿过。通常，该动脉与肋间动脉和胸廓内动脉吻合。然而，该动脉的起源和吻合情况存在多种生理变异。在大多数个体中，它是腋动脉第一段的唯一分支。胸上动脉是一条小动脉，通常在锁骨中线处锁骨下方两指宽处可触及。
