Transverse cervical artery

Artery of the neck

Blood vessel

Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries (transverse cervical artery is labeled, branching from the thyrocervical trunk)

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Transverse cervical artery is an artery in the neck that supplies blood to the muscles in the front, middle, and back of the neck. It originates from the thyrocervical trunk, which is a branch of the subclavian artery. The transverse cervical artery is divided into two branches: the superficial branch and the deep branch. The superficial branch supplies blood to the trapezius muscle, while the deep branch (also known as the dorsal scapular artery) supplies blood to the rhomboid muscles.

Anatomy

The transverse cervical artery arises from the thyrocervical trunk, which is a branch of the subclavian artery. It runs across the neck, passing beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the levator scapulae muscle, and then divides into a superficial branch and a deep branch.

Superficial Branch

The superficial branch of the transverse cervical artery runs across the posterior triangle of the neck, supplying blood to the trapezius muscle. It also gives off branches to the levator scapulae muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Deep Branch

The deep branch of the transverse cervical artery, also known as the dorsal scapular artery, runs downward and laterally to supply blood to the rhomboid muscles. It also gives off branches to the levator scapulae muscle.

Clinical Significance

The transverse cervical artery can be involved in various medical conditions. For example, it can be injured in neck trauma, leading to hemorrhage. It can also be involved in aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and carotid artery dissections.

Gallery

• 
  Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries
• 
  The dorsal scapular artery, sometimes a branch from the transverse cervical artery

See also

• Thyrocervical trunk
• Subclavian artery
• Trapezius muscle
• Rhomboid muscles
• Sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Levator scapulae muscle

External links

• Anatomy photo:01:04-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Muscles of the Back: Spinal Accessory Nerve (CN XI) and Transverse Cervical Vessels"
• Anatomy figure: 26:03-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Branches of the first part of the subclavian artery."

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