Corpus: Superior thoracic artery

The superior thoracic artery originates variably, mostly from the axillary artery, but occasionally from the costocervical trunk. It supplies portions of the chest and intercostal muscles with oxygen-rich blood.

The superior thoracic artery courses along the upper border of the pectoralis minor muscle medially and then swings laterally between it and the pectoralis major muscle, giving off fine branches to both muscles. Some collateral branches anastomose with the internal thoracic artery and the intercostal arteries.

As a variation, the artery can also arise from the thoracoacromial artery.

The superior thoracic artery supplies the following muscles:

• Pectoralis minor muscle
• Pectoralis major muscle
• Subclavius muscle
• Serratus anterior muscle
• Intercostal muscles of the first two intercostal spaces