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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
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.
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]
Each vein also gives off a dorsal branch that drains blood from the muscles of the back. There are eleven posterior intercostal veins on each side. Their patterns are variable, but they are commonly arranged as: The 1st posterior intercostal vein, supreme intercostal vein, drains into the brachiocephalic vein or the vertebral vein.
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 .
This branch is not constant, but is more commonly found on the right side; when absent, its place is supplied by an intercostal branch from the aorta. Each intercostal gives off a posterior branch which goes to the posterior vertebral muscles, and sends a small spinal branch through the corresponding intervertebral foramen to the medulla ...