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The intercostal arteries are a group of arteries passing within an intercostal space (the space between two adjacent ribs). There are 9 anterior and 11 posterior intercostal arteries on each side of the body. The anterior intercostal arteries are branches of the internal thoracic artery and its terminal branch – the musculophrenic artery.
The intercostal veins are a group of veins which drain the area between the ribs ("costae"), called the intercostal space. They can be divided as follows: Anterior intercostal veins; Posterior intercostal veins. Posterior intercost vein that drain into the Supreme intercostal vein - 1st intercostal space
The lower branch of the space anastomoses with a collateral branch of the posterior intercostal artery. After passing the sixth intercostal space, the internal thoracic artery splits into the following two terminal branches: Musculophrenic artery – roughly follows the costal margin and it again gives branch for 7,8,9 ribs
The posterior intercostal veins are veins that drain the intercostal spaces posteriorly. They run with their corresponding posterior intercostal artery on the underside of the rib, the vein superior to the artery. Each vein also gives off a dorsal branch that drains blood from the muscles of the back.
Bilaterally, the internal thoracic vein arises from the superior epigastric vein, and accompanies the internal thoracic artery along its course. [1] It drains the intercostal veins, although the posterior drainage is often handled by the azygous veins. [1] It terminates in the brachiocephalic vein. [2] It has a width of 2-3 mm. [3]
In reference to the muscles of the thoracic wall, the intercostal nerves and vessels run posterior to the internal intercostal muscles: therefore, they are generally covered on the inside by the parietal pleura, except when they are covered by the innermost intercostal muscles, innermost intercostal membrane, subcostal muscles or the transversus thoracis muscle.
The left superior intercostal vein drains the 2nd and 3rd posterior intercostal veins on the left side of the body. It usually drains into the left brachiocephalic vein . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] It may also communicate with the accessory hemiazygos vein .
Perforating branches; six anterior intercostal branches. upper branches; lower branches of the space anastomoses; Musculophrenic artery. intercostal branches (three) branches to lower part of the pericardium; branches to diaphragm; branches to abdominal muscles; Superior epigastric artery