Costocervical trunk
Encyclopedia
The costocervical trunk arises from the upper and back part of the subclavian artery
, behind the scalenus anterior
on the right side, and medial to that muscle on the left side.
Passing backward, it splits into the deep cervical artery
and the supreme intercostal artery (highest intercostal artery), which descends behind the pleura in front of the necks of the first and second ribs, and anastomoses with the first aortic intercostal (3rd posterior intercostal artery).
As it crosses the neck of the first rib it lies medial to the anterior division of the first thoracic nerve, and lateral to the first thoracic ganglion of the sympathetic trunk
.
In the first intercostal space, it gives off a branch which is distributed in a manner similar to the distribution of the aortic intercostals.
The branch for the second intercostal space usually joins with one from the highest aortic intercostal artery.
This branch is not constant, but is more commonly found on the right side; when absent, its place is supplied by an intercostal branch from the aorta.
Each intercostal gives off a posterior branch which goes to the posterior vertebral muscles, and sends a small spinal branch through the corresponding intervertebral foramen to the medulla spinalis and its membranes.
Subclavian artery
In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are two major arteries of the upper thorax , below the clavicle . They receive blood from the top of the aorta...
, behind the scalenus anterior
Scalenus anterior
The Scalenus anterior , also known as anterior scalene muscle, lies deeply at the side of the neck, behind the Sternocleidomastoideus.-Anatomy:...
on the right side, and medial to that muscle on the left side.
Passing backward, it splits into the deep cervical artery
Deep cervical artery
-Course:It arises, in most cases, from the costocervical trunk, and is analogous to the posterior branch of an aortic intercostal artery: occasionally it is a separate branch from the subclavian artery....
and the supreme intercostal artery (highest intercostal artery), which descends behind the pleura in front of the necks of the first and second ribs, and anastomoses with the first aortic intercostal (3rd posterior intercostal artery).
As it crosses the neck of the first rib it lies medial to the anterior division of the first thoracic nerve, and lateral to the first thoracic ganglion of the sympathetic trunk
Sympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunks are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.-Structure:...
.
In the first intercostal space, it gives off a branch which is distributed in a manner similar to the distribution of the aortic intercostals.
The branch for the second intercostal space usually joins with one from the highest aortic intercostal artery.
This branch is not constant, but is more commonly found on the right side; when absent, its place is supplied by an intercostal branch from the aorta.
Each intercostal gives off a posterior branch which goes to the posterior vertebral muscles, and sends a small spinal branch through the corresponding intervertebral foramen to the medulla spinalis and its membranes.