Corpus: Internal thoracic artery
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from Latin: arteria - artery; thorax - chest
Synonym: internal mammary artery
Abbreviations: IMA, ITA, RIMA, LIMA
1. Definition
The internal thoracic artery, or internal mammary artery, is a branch of the subclavian artery. It supplies blood to the intercostal muscles, diaphragm, mammary gland, and other structures in the chest wall.
2. Course
The internal thoracic artery originates from the subclavian artery shortly after its origin. It descends into the thoracic cavity about 1 cm lateral to the sternum. Along its course, it gives off anterior intercostal arteries, which travel through the intercostal spaces and form anastomoses with the posterior intercostal arteries. Around the level of the 6th intercostal space, the artery divides into its two terminal branches: the musculophrenic artery and the superior epigastric artery.
3. Branches
The internal thoracic artery has three main groups of branches:
- Chest wall branches:
- Pericardiacophrenic artery
- Sternal branches
- Perforating branches
- Muscular branches
- Cutaneous branches
- Medial mammary branches
- Anterior intercostal arteries
- Intestinal branches:
- Mediastinal branches
- Thymic branches
- Tracheal branches
- Bronchial branches
- End branches:
- Musculophrenic artery
- Superior epigastric artery
4. Clinic
The internal thoracic artery is commonly used in coronary artery bypass grafting due to its reliability and durability. In clinical settings, it is often referred to as IMA (internal mammary artery), RIMA (right internal mammary artery), and LIMA (left internal mammary artery).