Quick Facts
Origin: Subscapular artery.
Course: Along the lateral scapular border and pierces latissimus dorsi muscle with the thoracodorsal nerve.
Branches: No named branches.
Supplied Structures: Latissimus dorsi, teres major, and serratus anterior muscles, cutaneous supply to the region overlying the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The subscapular artery terminally bifurcates into the larger circumflex scapular artery and the smaller thoracodorsal artery.
Course
The thoracodorsal artery runs along the lateral scapular edge between the latissimus dorsi and the serratus anterior muscles. It sits posterior to the lateral thoracic artery. It then traverses through the latissimus dorsi muscle with the thoracodorsal nerve.
Branches
No named branches.
Supplied Structures
The thoracodorsal artery supplies the latissimus dorsi, teres major, and serratus anterior muscles, and contributes to the supply of the underlying intercostal muscles. It also supplies the cutaneous tissue overlying the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Thoracodorsal Artery
The thoracodorsal artery courses from the axilla along the anterior border of the latissimus dorsi muscle, enters the muscle from underneath, and spreads into two or three major branches at the undersurface of the muscle.
