Corpus: Thoracodorsal artery

The thoracodorsal artery continues the course of the subscapular artery. It runs along with the thoracodorsal vein and the thoracodorsal nerve between the lateral chest wall and the latissimus dorsi muscle caudally. It supplies the surrounding musculature, primarily the latissimus dorsi muscle, and also provides branches (2 to 3 muscular rami) to the serratus anterior and teres major muscles.

The thoracodorsal artery forms anastomoses with the dorsal scapular artery.

The thoracodorsal artery is the supply vessel for the latissimus dorsi flap and the serratus anterior flap, which are used in reconstructive surgery to cover larger tissue defects.