Subclavian artery - course, syntopy, branches

The subclavian artery is one of the arteries that supplies the upper extremity. It has two main branches, the right subclavian branch arises from the brachiocephalic artery and the left subclavian artery arises from the aortic arch. They can be found just below the clavicles initially. As it travels, it moves laterally towards the axilla by passing through the cupula pleurae, the first rib, and lastly, the scalene fissure, which is a space between the anterior and middle scalene muscles.

The subclavian artery supplies upper extremity parts such as the brain, the cervical spinal cord, the cervical spine and the muscles around it, the entire first two intercostals and the anterior sections of the 3rd-11th intercostals, the anterior mediastinum, the pericardium, the diaphragm, the thyroid gland, the larynx, part of the muscles and skin of the neck, chest and spine, and the upper half of the musculus rectus abdominis.[1]

Incomplete citation of web. 1. LÉKAŘSKÉ FAKULTY A UNIVERZITY KARLOVY,. Wikiskripta : Arteria subclavia [online]. 1. lékařské fakulty a Univerzity Karlovy, ©2024. <https://www.wikiskripta.eu/w/Arteria_subclavia>.

Branches

Vertebral artery

Enters the transverse foramen of the vertebral column runs from C6 and proceeds cranially to C1. It inserts into the vertebral artery groove of the atlas and passes through the dura into the foramen magnum where both the right and left vertebral arteries will unite to form the basilar artery, this artery will further divide and become part of the circle of Willis.

Internal thoracic artery

Descends through the anterior mediastinum, lateral to the sternum right behind the rib cartilages. Here it divides into three other branches, the superior epigastric artery passing through the diaphragm, the pericardiophrenic artery along the wall of the pericardium and the anterior intercostal artery to the muscles.

Thyrocervical trunk

Exits at the anterior border of the anterior scalene muscles and ascends dividing into branches. Inferior thyroid artery ascends till around C6 to supply the inferior part of the thyroid gland and gives off the inferior laryngeal artery. The inferior thyroid also gives the ascending cervical artery branch that runs with the phrenic nerve up to the anterior scalene muscles. Suprascapular artery traveling alongside the suprascapular nerve to supply the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles Transverse cervical artery runs over the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle to the trapezius.

Costocervical

Travels behind the anterior scalene muscle and further splits into two branches, the deep cervical supplying the deep muscles of the neck and the superior intercostal artery supplying the posterior part of 1-2 intercostal muscles.

Dorsal Scapular

Travels medially to the scapula and anterior to the rhomboid muscles to supply the trapezius and the rhomboid muscles