Corpus: Thoracoacromial artery

The thoracoacromial artery is a branch of the axillary artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the chest and shoulder region.

The thoracoacromial artery has a relatively short trunk that is obscured by the upper edge of the pectoralis major muscle and quickly divides into four branches. It supplies several structures of the shoulder and chest.

The four branches of the thoracoacromial artery are:

• Pectoral branch (Ramus pectoralis): Descends between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major muscles, branching further to supply these muscles and the breast tissue.

• Acromial branch (Ramus acromialis): Moves laterally and upwards, running between the coracoid process and the deltoid muscle, entering this muscle to give off several branches. Part of this vessel pierces the muscle, ending in the acromial area forming an arterial network (Rete acromiale) also fed by the suprascapular and the posterior circumflex humeral arteries.

• Clavicular branch (Ramus clavicularis): Runs medially and upwards towards the sternoclavicular joint and the subclavius muscle.

• Deltoid branch (Ramus deltoideus): Runs laterally, crossing over the pectoralis minor muscle and follows the deltopectoral groove between the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles, where the cephalic vein is also located. There it supplies branches to both muscles.