Lateral thoracic artery

Lateral thoracic artery
Axillary artery, with its branches, including the lateral thoracic artery. Anterior view of right upper limb and thorax.
Details
Source	axillary artery
Vein	lateral thoracic vein
Supplies	Serratus anterior muscle Pectoralis major muscle
Identifiers
Latin	arteria thoracalis lateralis
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_61/12156319
TA	A12.2.09.011
FMA	22674
Anatomical terminology []

In human anatomy, the lateral thoracic artery (or external mammary artery) is a blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the lateral structures of the thorax and breast.

It originates from the axillary artery and follows the lower border of the Pectoralis minor muscle to the side of the chest, supplies the Serratus anterior muscle and the Pectoralis major muscle, and sends branches across the axilla to the axillary lymph nodes and Subscapularis muscle.

It anastomoses with the internal thoracic artery, subscapular, and intercostal arteries, and with the pectoral branch of the thoracoacromial artery.

In the female it supplies an external mammary branch which turns round the free edge of the Pectoralis major and supplies the breasts.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)