Subcostal artery

Subcostal artery

The subcostal artery, labeled at bottom right.

The subcostal artery is the last branch of the thoracic aorta and is anatomically and functionally equivalent to the intercostal arteries, but is not usually classified as one of them. It is so named because it runs below the last rib, also known as the subcostal rib.

Anatomy

The subcostal artery originates from the thoracic aorta at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra. It runs along the lower border of the twelfth rib, often giving off a spinal branch which enters the vertebral canal through the intervertebral foramen of the twelfth thoracic vertebra.

Branches

The subcostal artery gives off several branches, including the lateral cutaneous branch, which supplies the skin and muscles of the back, and the anterior cutaneous branch, which supplies the skin and muscles of the anterior abdominal wall.

Clinical significance

The subcostal artery is important in several surgical procedures, including thoracotomy and laparotomy. It is also a potential site of injury in trauma to the lower chest or upper abdomen.

See also

• Intercostal arteries
• Thoracic aorta
• Anatomy of the human body