The subclavian artery is called the subclavian artery. It is responsible for the complete blood supply to the arm.
What is the subclavian artery?
The subclavian artery is the subclavian artery. It refers to a paired blood vessel close to the trunk. The tasks of the artery primarily include arm blood supply. Thus, together with its branches, it forms the main arteries supplying the upper arm, shoulder and elbow. In addition, the neck, the anterior wall of the chest (thorax), and the occipital region of the brain also receive blood from it.
Anatomy and structure
The left subclavian artery originates in the aortic arch. In contrast, the right subclavian artery, together with the common carotid artery, originates in the brachiocephalic trunk. The course of the subclavian artery is from the scalenus gap, which is formed by the scalenus medius muscle and the scalenus anterior muscle and is located below the clavicle and the pectoralis minor muscle, towards the lower edge of the pectoralis major muscle. From this point on, the artery is called the axillary artery. The scalenus gap is a narrow point. Thus, there is a risk of impaired blood flow there. In medicine, this is called scalenus syndrome. Several branches are formed from the subclavian artery. These are the vertebral artery, the internal thoracic artery, the costocervical trunk and the thyrocervical trunk. The vertebral artery runs in the foramina of the cervical transverse processes toward the foramen magnum within the cranial cavity. Together with the internal carotid artery, it is responsible for supplying the human brain. Inside the skull, it joins the vertebral artery on the opposite side of the body to form the basilar artery. This takes care of the supply of parts of the end brain, cerebellum and brain stem. Behind the sternum lies the internal thoracic artery, from which the anterior chest wall, the upper abdominal wall portions, the diaphragm, the pericardium, and the mediastinum receive their blood. It forms a small branch that runs down about an inch parallel to the edge of the sternum. In medicine, the internal thoracic artery also bears the name internal mammary artery. The costocervical trunk marks the origin of the profundal cervical artery and the supreme intercostal artery. From the thyrocervical truncus originate the suprascapular artery, the ascending cervical artery, the transversa colli artery, and the inferior thyroid artery. The subclavian artery is accompanied by the subclavian vein. This is located further down between the anterior scalenus gap and the scalenus anterior muscle.
Function and Tasks
The primary function of the subclavian artery is to supply blood to the upper extremities. In addition, it also supplies blood to the neck region and chest. From the branch of the subclavian artery, the vertebral artery, the brain is also supplied with blood. Without this arterial supply, humans would suffer from circulatory disorders, which are manifested by various symptoms.
Diseases
The subclavian artery can sometimes also be affected by diseases. This primarily includes the so-called subclavian steal syndrome, which is also known as vertebral artery phenomenon or subclaviastenosis. This refers to a circulatory disorder of the human brain caused by a narrowing of the subclavian artery. The circulatory disorder is rare and is usually caused by calcified blood vessels. In healthy people, blood can flow easily through the aorta and subclavian artery toward the brachial arteries. However, if there is pronounced narrowing or even occlusion of the subclavian artery, not enough blood reaches the affected arm. For this reason, the arm taps blood from the brain, taking a detour via the vertebral artery, which otherwise supplies the brain. This procedure reverses the blood flow of the vertrebral artery so that its blood flows into the subclavian artery instead of the brain. This allows the constriction of the subclavian artery to be bypassed and the arm now receives its blood from the vertebral artery.This in turn receives its blood from the carotid artery, which in turn is supplied by the aorta or brachiocephalic trunk. However, the brain lacks important blood as a result of this balancing process. This is especially true when there is an increased demand for blood from the arm when it is moving. Subclavian steal syndrome can affect both the right and left sides of the body. The greatest risk of developing subclavian steal syndrome is when the affected person suffers from arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Thus, this vascular disease causes narrowing of the blood vessels. Elevated blood fat levels, tobacco consumption and a lack of exercise are classified as risk factors. In some cases, however, vascular malformations are also responsible for subclaviastenosis. Subclavian steal syndrome is manifested by various symptoms. These include paralysis of the eye muscles, visual disturbances, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), disturbances of balance, sensory disturbances, dysphagia, speech disorders and headaches in the back of the head. Even paralysis and impaired consciousness are possible. Treatment of subclavian steal syndrome is usually by angioplasty, in which the affected arteries are dilated by inserting a balloon catheter. Not infrequently, the placement of stents is also performed. In medicine, the subclavian artery is also used to correct aortic stenosis during surgery. This procedure is called arteria subclavia reversal surgery.
