Posterior intercostal arteries
Updates to Article Attributes
The intercostal spaces are supplied by pairs of anterior and posterior intercostal arteries.
Gross Anatomy
The first two intercostal spaces are supplied by the superior intercostal artery, and the remaining nine are supplied by separate branches from the descending thoracic aorta 1. The right sided arteries are longer as the aorta lies to the left of the midline. They pass in front of the vertebrae and behind the azygos venous system, oesophagus and thoracic duct. The left sided arteries run posteriorly adjacent to the vertebrae and enter into the intercostal space.
The superior intercostal artery is the descending branch of the costocervical trunk, which arises from the second part of the subclavian artery 2. It enters the thorax anterior to the neck of the first rib with the sympathetic trunk on its medial side.
Branches
The posterior intercostal artery divides into the anterior and posterior rami. The anterior ramus runs along the costal groove, accompanied by an intercostal nerve and vein. The vein lies superior to the artery and the nerve inferior to it (mnemonic "VAN"). It then divides into four branches:
- collateral intercostal
- lateral cutaneous
- mammary, and
- muscular 1
The posterior ramus gives off branches which anastomose with other vessels to supply the spinal cord and soft tissue structures of the back.
Supply
Along with the anterior intercostal arteries, the posterior intercostal arteries supply the muscles and skin within the intercostal spaces as well as the parietal pleura 3.
-<p>The <a href="/articles/intercostal-spaces">intercostal spaces</a> are supplied by pairs of <a href="/articles/anterior-intercostal-arteries">anterior</a> and <strong>posterior intercostal arteries</strong>.</p><h4>Gross Anatomy</h4><p>The first two <a href="/articles/intercostal-spaces">intercostal spaces</a> are supplied by the <a href="/articles/supreme-intercostal-arteries">superior intercostal artery</a>, and the remaining nine are supplied by separate branches from the descending thoracic aorta <sup>1</sup>. The right sided arteries are longer as the aorta lies to the left of the midline. They pass in front of the vertebrae and behind the <a href="/articles/azygos-venous-system">azygos venous system</a>, <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a> and <a href="/articles/thoracic-duct">thoracic duct</a>. The left sided arteries run posteriorly adjacent to the vertebrae and enter into the <a href="/articles/intercostal-spaces">intercostal space</a>.</p><p>The superior intercostal artery is the descending branch of the <a href="/articles/costocervical-trunk">costocervical trunk</a>, which arises from the second part of the <a href="/articles/subclavian-artery">subclavian artery</a> <sup>2</sup>. It enters the thorax anterior to the neck of the first rib with the <a href="/articles/sympathetic-trunk">sympathetic trunk</a> on its medial side.</p><h5>Branches</h5><p>The posterior intercostal artery divides into the anterior and posterior rami. The anterior ramus runs along the costal groove, accompanied by an intercostal nerve and vein. The vein lies superior to the artery and the nerve inferior to it (mnemonic "VAN"). It then divides into four branches:</p><ul>- +<p>The <a href="/articles/intercostal-spaces">intercostal spaces</a> are supplied by pairs of <a href="/articles/anterior-intercostal-arteries">anterior</a> and <strong>posterior intercostal arteries</strong>.</p><h4>Gross Anatomy</h4><p>The first two <a href="/articles/intercostal-spaces">intercostal spaces</a> are supplied by the <a href="/articles/supreme-intercostal-arteries">superior intercostal artery</a>, and the remaining nine are supplied by separate branches from the <a title="Descending thoracic aorta" href="/articles/descending-aorta">descending thoracic aorta</a> <sup>1</sup>. The right sided arteries are longer as the aorta lies to the left of the midline. They pass in front of the vertebrae and behind the <a href="/articles/azygos-venous-system">azygos venous system</a>, <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a> and <a href="/articles/thoracic-duct">thoracic duct</a>. The left sided arteries run posteriorly adjacent to the vertebrae and enter into the <a href="/articles/intercostal-spaces">intercostal space</a>.</p><p>The superior intercostal artery is the descending branch of the <a href="/articles/costocervical-trunk">costocervical trunk</a>, which arises from the second part of the <a href="/articles/subclavian-artery">subclavian artery</a> <sup>2</sup>. It enters the thorax anterior to the neck of the first rib with the <a href="/articles/sympathetic-trunk">sympathetic trunk</a> on its medial side.</p><h5>Branches</h5><p>The posterior intercostal artery divides into the anterior and posterior rami. The anterior ramus runs along the costal groove, accompanied by an <a href="/articles/intercostal-nerve">intercostal nerve</a> and vein. The vein lies superior to the artery and the nerve inferior to it (mnemonic "VAN"). It then divides into four branches:</p><ul>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.