Superior thoracic artery

The superior thoracic artery (highest thoracic artery) is a small artery located near the armpit. It usually originates from (the first division of) the axillary artery, but can instead originate from the thoracoacromial artery (itself a branch of the second division of the axillary artery). It supplies the pectoralis minor and major muscles, and the chest wall.

Course and relations
It passes anteromedially along medial upper border of the pectoralis before passing between pectoralis minor and pectoralis major to reach the chest wall.

Anastomoses
It forms anastomoses with the internal thoracic artery, and upper intercostal arteries.