VAN 121: Veterinary Gross Anatomy-II (2+2)

EXTERNAL THORACIC ARTERY

• It is a large vessel arising from the ventral face of the brachial artery at about the level of the anterior border of the first rib.
• It passes backwards on the deep face of the deep pectoral muscle.
• It gives off a number of branches to the pectoral muscles, axillary lymph gland, panniculus and skin.
• One of its branches passes in the groove between the brachiocephalicus and anterior superficial pectoral muscle, supplies them and accompanies the cephalic vein.
• This branch corresponds to the descending branch of the inferior cervical artery of the horse.