Blood vessels of the female breast (English)

The image shows the left pectoral region of a female, with the skin removed to reveal the breast tissue. The pectoralis major and minor muscles are also reflected to better expose the blood vessels beneath them. It is possible to see the internal thoracic artery branching from the subclavian artery and running along the lateral border of the sternum. The perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery give off medial mammary branches that supply the medial aspect of the breast. The axillary artery is a continuation of the subclavian artery originating at the lateral border of the first rib. It gives off the lateral thoracic artery that supplies the superolateral aspect of the breast. Most of the venous drainage is carried out by tributaries of the axillary vein (lateral thoracic, cephalic and basilic veins). Some blood of the medial aspect of the breast is drained by the internal thoracic vein that follows the course of its corresponding artery to drain into the subclavian vein.