External mammary artery

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

External mammary artery

The thoracic arteries. (External mammary artery labeled at center right.)

The External mammary artery is a small artery that arises from the axillary artery, opposite the thoracoacromial artery. It is also known as the lateral thoracic artery.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The external mammary artery runs along the lateral edge of the pectoralis minor muscle, giving off several branches to the muscle and continuing towards the mammary gland. It supplies blood to the lateral part of the mammary gland and the overlying skin.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

The external mammary artery is of clinical significance in breast reconstruction surgery, where it can be used as a source of blood supply for a flap of tissue.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD