Quick Facts
Origin: Costocervical trunk.
Course: Posteroinferiorly along the necks of upper ribs.
Branches: First and second posterior intercostal arteries.
Supplied Structures: Thoracic wall.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The supreme intercostal artery arises from the costocervical artery, a branch of the second part of the subclavian artery.
Course
The supreme intercostal artery travels in an posteroinferior direction, running along the anterior surface of the neck of the first and second ribs and posterior to the pleura of the lungs.
Branches
In the first intercostal space, it gives off the first posterior intercostal artery. It continues to the second intercostal space to become the second posterior intercostal artery. It usually anastomoses with a branch from the third posterior intercostal artery.
Supplied Structures
The supreme intercostal artery supplies blood to structures of the upper thoracic wall.
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Artery
Arteries are vessels transporting blood between heart, tissues, and other organs in order to supply them with nutrition and oxygen.
