Quick Facts
Origin: Internal thoracic artery.
Course: Descends within rectus sheath.
Branches: None.
Supplied Structures: Anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm.
Origin
The superior epigastric artery arises from the terminal bifurcation of the internal thoracic artery at the level of the sixth costal cartilage.
Course
The superior epigastric artery travels inferiorly, posterior to the costal cartilages, and enters the abdomen via the gaps in between the muscular attachments of the diaphragm to the costal margin and the xiphoid process.
The artery then enters the rectus sheath and continues inferiorly where it anastomoses with the inferior epigastric arteries around the level of the umbilicus.
Branches
During its descent, the superior epigastric artery gives rise to several small unnamed muscular and cutaneous branches.
Supplied Structures
The superior epigastric artery supplies the upper anterior abdominal wall and to a small portion of the anterior diaphragm.
