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A study on origin, termination, and course characteristics of internal thoracic artery relevant to coronary surgeries

Gaurav Agnihotri1, Anureet Mitra1

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Tzu Chi Medical Journal
|August 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The internal thoracic artery typically originates from the subclavian artery and most commonly terminates in the sixth intercostal space. Understanding these anatomical variations is crucial for surgical success in coronary artery bypass grafting and reconstructive procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Anatomy
  • Vascular Surgery

Background:

  • The internal thoracic artery is vital for coronary artery bypass grafting and breast reconstruction.
  • Knowledge of its anatomical variations is essential for surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origin, termination, and course of the internal thoracic artery.
  • To document morphological features and variations for clinical application.

Main Methods:

  • Study of 200 thoracic halves from 100 human cadavers.
  • Analysis of internal thoracic artery origin, course, termination, and patterns.

Main Results:

  • Origin: First part of the subclavian artery.
  • Course: Predominantly medial concavity (88.5%), with 10% tortuous.
  • Termination: Sixth intercostal space (93.5%), with bifurcation (98%) or trifurcation (2%).

Conclusions:

  • Clinicians must be aware of internal thoracic artery anatomical characteristics and variations.
  • This knowledge improves prognosis and reduces complications in cardiovascular and reconstructive surgeries.
Abstract

Keywords:
Coronary surgeriesMedial concavityReconstructive proceduresTortuousTrifurcation

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