Quick Facts
Origin: Internal thoracic artery.
Course: Inferiorly through the middle mediastinum.
Branches: None.
Supplied Structures: Pericardium, respiratory diaphragm, and mediastinal part of parietal pleura.
Origin
The pericardiacophrenic artery arises from the internal thoracic artery at the level of the first costal cartilage.
Course
From its origin, the pericardiacophrenic artery descends through the middle mediastinum. It travels anterior to the lung roots, then between the pleura and the lateral surface of the pericardium. It extends to the respiratory diaphragm, where it anastomoses with the superior phrenic and musculophrenic arteries.
Along most of its course, the pericardiacophrenic artery is accompanied by the phrenic nerve and pericardiacophrenic vein.
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The pericardiacophrenic artery supplies the pericardium, respiratory diaphragm, and mediastinal part of parietal pleura.
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Artery
Arteries are vessels transporting blood between heart, tissues, and other organs in order to supply them with nutrition and oxygen.
