j^ ARTERIES OP THE SHOULDER. 



inside, and the external or musculo-cutaneous on the 

 outside. 



BRANCHES OF THE AXILLARY ARTERY, (Fig. 233.) 



The thoracica-acromialis , or acromial thoracic artery, 

 ascends above the pectoralis minor, and sends "branches, 

 called thoracic, to the pectoral and serratus magnus muscles, 

 branches to the acromion, and a descending branch be- 

 tween the deltoid and great pectoral. It anastomoses with 

 the supra scapular. 



The superior or short thoracic often has a common origin 

 with the thoracica-acromialis. It passes along the upper 

 border of the little pectoral muscle, and supplies the pec- 

 toral muscles and mammary gland, anastomosing with the 

 intercostal and mammary arteries. 



The inferior or long thoracic, called also the external 

 mammary, differs from the two last by arising below the 

 lesser pectoral muscle. Sometimes it is a branch of the 

 subscapular or acromial artery, or has a common trunk 

 with them. It goes along the inferior edge of the great 

 pectoral muscle, supplying it, the mammary gland, the 

 great serratus muscle and the integuments, and anasto- 

 mosing with the superior thoracic, the intercostal and the 

 mammary arteries. 



The thoracica-axillaris , frequently a branch of the tho- 

 racic, is distributed to the glands of the axilla. 



The subscapular artery, (scapularis inferior,,) the largest 

 branch of the axillary, descends along the lower edge of 

 the subscapularis muscle to the inferior angle of the scapula- 

 In its course it sends branches to the axilla, and about an 

 inch from its origin it gives off the dorsalis scapulw, sup- 

 plies the subscapularis, serratus magnus, and latissimus 

 dorsi muscles, tfyen winds around the inferior costa of the 

 scapula to its dorsum, anastomosing with the superior 

 scapular, and terminating upon the infra-spinatus muscle, 

 where it is called dorsalis inferior scapula*. 



The anterior circumflex artery arises above the tendon of 

 the teres major from the axillary. Sometimes it is a branch 



