Arteries of the arm and the shoulder - Anterior view (English)

The subclavian artery conveys oxygenated blood to the upper limb, axilla and lateral aspect of the thorax. It exits the thorax at the lateral border of the first rib where it becomes the axillary artery which can be divided into three parts relative to the pectoralis minor muscle. The first part is proximal to the pectoralis minor and has one branch: the superior thoracic artery, which supplies the pectoralis minor and major muscles. The second part lies posterior to the pectoralis minor and has two main branches: the thoracoacromial artery, which further divides into four terminal branches (acromial, clavicular, deltoid and pectoral) and the lateral thoracic artery supplying the pectoralis and serratus anterior muscles. The third part has three branches: the subscapular artery, the anterior circumflex humeral artery and posterior circumflex humeral artery. The axillary artery terminates at the inferior border of the teres major muscle where it becomes the brachial artery. Branches of the brachial artery in the arm include the deep brachial artery, the nutrient artery of humerus as well as the superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries.