The pericardiacophrenic artery is a long slender branch of the
internal thoracic artery
In human anatomy, the internal thoracic artery (ITA), previously commonly known as the internal mammary artery (a name still common among surgeons), is an artery that supplies the anterior chest wall and the breasts. It is a paired artery, with on ...
.
It
anastomoses with the
musculophrenic and
superior phrenic arteries.
Location
The pericardiacophrenic artery branches from the internal thoracic artery.
It accompanies the
phrenic nerve
The phrenic nerve is a mixed motor/sensory nerve which originates from the C3-C5 spinal nerves in the neck. The nerve is important for breathing because it provides exclusive motor control of the diaphragm, the primary muscle of respiration. In ...
between the
pleura and
pericardium, to the
diaphragm
Diaphragm may refer to:
Anatomy
* Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen
* Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure
* Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure
Other
* Diap ...
. This is where both the artery and the phrenic nerve are distributed.
Function
The pericardiacophrenic arteries travel through the
thoracic cavity, and are located within and supply the
fibrous pericardium. Along with the musculophrenic arteries, they also provide arterial supply to the diaphragm.
References
External links
* - "Pleural Cavities and Lungs: Structures Beneath the Left
Mediastinal pleura"
Arteries of the thorax
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