Internal Thoracic Artery, Anterior View

Description

Running vertically along the parasternal line, the internal thoracic artery descends on the deep surface of the anterior thoracic wall, just lateral to the sternum and posterior to the costal cartilages. Proximally it arises from the subclavian artery and courses inferiorly, giving off anterior intercostal branches that pass laterally within the intercostal spaces while paired internal thoracic veins accompany it on either side. Superficial to the vessel, the pectoralis major forms the dominant anterior chest contour, with the deltoid laterally at the shoulder and the biceps brachii and brachialis visible in the anterior arm. No skin. No subcutaneous fat. For coronary artery bypass grafting, the left internal thoracic artery is the standard in situ conduit to the left anterior descending artery, so a clear anterior view that fixes the vessel’s relationship to the sternum and costal cartilages supports both operative planning and teaching of harvest technique. Parasternal perforating branches and the anterior intercostal branches explain why bleeding can occur during dissection and why sternal perfusion becomes a concern after bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest, especially in diabetics and smokers. The depiction also fits central venous access and anterior chest wall procedures, where misjudging the parasternal plane can put the internal thoracic vessels at risk. Use this artwork in gross anatomy lab guides, thoracic wall lectures, and cardiothoracic surgery training materials that discuss internal thoracic artery anatomy, conduit selection, and sternal wound risk. It also suits atlas plates and patient education handouts that need a clean correlation between surface landmarks and the deep parasternal vascular corridor. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.