The internal thoracic artery is a smaller branch of the subclavian artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the chest cavity. The arterial vessel plays a role as a graft in procedures such as coronary bypass. Pathologic relevance has the artery like all other arteries, for example, in the context of arteriosclerosis.
What is the internal thoracic artery?
The subclavian artery corresponds to a paired artery near the trunk of the body that carries oxygenated blood to the head, neck, arms, and shoulders. The arterial vessel is located below the clavicle and is therefore also known as the subclavian artery or subclavian artery. The left subclavian artery takes its origin in the aortic arch. On the right side, the origin is in the brachiocephalic trunk. The blood vessel gives off several large branches with the vertebral artery, the thyrocervical truncus, and the costocervical truncus. The internal thoracic artery is a smaller branch of the subclavian artery that branches off the blood vessel in the thoracic region and supplies tissues in the thoracic region with nutrients and oxygen. In medical literature, the internal thoracic artery is also referred to as the internal thoracic artery. It is also commonly referred to as the internal mammary artery. The arterial vessel takes further branches in its course and divides into about ten branches.
Anatomy and structure
The internal thoracic artery arises approximately at the origin of the subclavian artery. Approximately one centimeter lateral to the sternum, the vessel travels in a caudal direction, heading for the thoracic cavity. In its course, the branch of the subclavian artery gives off the intercostal anterior arteries into the intercostal space. Within the intercostal spaces, this vascular branch forms a natural connection with the arteriae intercostales posteriores. At the sixth intercostal space, the artery divides into the two terminal branches, arteria musculophrenica and arteria epigastrica superior. A total of ten branches arise from the internal thoracic artery. In addition to the Arteriae intercostales anteriores, these are the Rami mediastinales, the Rami sternales as well as the Arteria pericardiacophrenica, the Arteria musculophrenica and the Arteria epigastrica superior. Apart from these, the rami thymici, bronchiales, tracheales and perforantes also arise from the internal thoracic artery. The overall course of the artery is close to the sternum.
Function and Tasks
The blood is a transport medium. For example, oxygen binds to hemoglobin in the environment of the lungs. In addition, the blood carries nutrients that have been absorbed through the intestinal wall. Messenger substances are also transported with the blood. Arteries carry blood rich in oxygen, nutrients and messenger substances from the center of the body to the periphery. In this way, they supply the peripheral tissues of the human body with vital substances that are relevant to growth and help cells metabolize energy. The transport of oxygen-rich blood is also considered to be the main task of the internal thoracic artery. The blood vessel is primarily responsible for supplying the thoracic cavity. With its individual branches, the artery keeps various tissues and organs in this region alive. In particular, the anterior chest wall, the upper part of the abdominal wall, the pericardium, the mediastinum and the diaphragm receive nutrients, messengers and oxygen through the arterial blood of the internal thoracic artery. In addition to transporting blood and thus supplying substances to individual tissues, arterial vessels also perform important tasks in the cardiovascular system. In addition to a layer of smooth muscle, sensory cells of deep sensibility are located in their vessel walls. These cells permanently report blood flow information to the nervous system via sensory afferent (ascending) nerve pathways. Based on this information, the autonomic nervous system commissions automatic blood flow adjustments as needed, which are closely related to heart rate. The smooth muscle in the arteries can induce changes in blood pressure by contracting or relaxing. With these processes, arteries such as the internal thoracic artery play an essential role in maintaining circulation.
Diseases
The internal thoracic artery has relatively high relevance in clinical practice as an autologous vascular graft. Such grafts are used, for example, for bypass routes such as coronary artery bypass grafting.In coronary artery bypass, a blood vessel bridge is created with the help of the graft, which represents an alternative route in the event of constriction or occlusion of coronary arteries and thus ensures the blood supply to the subsequent section of the vessel. Pathological relevance has the Arteria thoracica interna like all other arteries for example in the context of arterial diseases like arteriosclerosis. In the 21st century, arteriosclerosis is a common vascular disease, which in late stages often leads to infarctions such as strokes or heart attacks. Fats, calcium, thrombi and connective tissue are deposited in the arterial vessels in the form of plaques, causing the arteries to gradually lose elasticity. The blood pressure regulatory functions of the vessels are thus disturbed. The more the arteries calcify, the harder they become and the more susceptible they are to ruptures or tiny tears in the vessel walls. The cracks cause thrombi, which aggravate the arteriosclerotic processes. Because of the increasing vessel constriction, oxygen deficiencies can occur in the tissues, especially in the thoracic artery. This reduced supply can lead to necrosis, which can be life-threatening in the pericardium, for example. Apart from this, the affected vessel sections become inflamed in the course of the disease and accelerate the progression of the disease due to the inflammations. Aneurysms are also conceivable consequences of arteriosclerotic processes in the vessels.
