Branches of aorta, subclavians, axillary arteries

Branches of aorta (in order): ABCS

• (Aorta)
• Brachiocephalic (branches into right subclavian artery and right common carotid)
• Left Common carotid
• Left Subclavian

Branches of each subclavian artery (in order) – Very Interesting Things Cost Double:

• Vertebral artery
• Internal thoracic artery (formerly internal mammary artery)
• Thyrocervical trunk (four branches, in order – ISAT)
• Costocervical trunk
• Dorsal scapular artery

The L + R vertebral arteries ascend through the cervical transverse foramina and merge to form the basilar artery.

The internal thoracic (mammary) arteries supply the anterior chest wall. Each one bifurcates into the superior epigastric artery and musculophrenic artery.

Thyrocervical trunk (four branches, in order – ISAT)

• Inferior thyroidal artery, Suprascapular artery, Ascending cervical artery, Transverse cervical artery

Costocervical trunk

• Bifurcates into deep cervical artery and superior intercostal artery.

Dorsal scapular artery

• Supplies the Trapezius, Rhomboids, and Levator scapulae (TRL)

Axillary artery is what the subclavian artery is called after it travels lateral to the first rib – i.e., before it passes the lateral aspect of the first rib, the artery is called the subclavian. After, it is simply called the axillary artery.

After the subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery lateral to the first rib, the axillary artery will go on to become the brachial artery after passing the inferior margin of teres major.

Anatomy of axillary artery (three parts, with their respective branches, in order) – Screw The Lawyers Save A Patient:

• 1^st part – superior to pectoralis major
  • Superior thoracic artery

• 2^nd part – posterior to pectoralis major
  • Thoracoacromial artery
  • Lateral thoracic artery

• 3^rd part – inferior to pectoralis major
  • Subscapular artery
  • Anterior humeral circumflex artery
  • Posterior humeral circumflex artery

Subscapular artery

• First 4cm of the subscapular artery has two branches: the circumflex scapular artery and thoracodorsal artery.

Subscapular artery

• • First 4cm of the subscapular artery has two branches: the circumflex scapular artery and thoracodorsal artery.
  • It should be noted that the thoracodorsal artery supplies the latissimus dorsi.

Subscapular artery

• • First 4cm of the subscapular artery has two branches: the circumflex scapular artery and thoracodorsal artery.
  • It should be noted that the thoracodorsal artery supplies the latissimus dorsi.
  • If the subscapular artery is ligated, the circumflex scapular artery can supply the latissimus dorsi via retrograde flow.

Anterior humeral circumflex artery

• • Small vessel; supplies head of humerus and the glenohumeral joint.

Posterior humeral circumflex artery

• • Larger than anterior humeral circumflex artery.
  • Supplies the deltoid, teres major, teres minor, and the long head of the triceps.