Artery Thoracic Long

The long thoracic artery (thoracic aorta, a.thoracica media), the largest branch of the thoracic part of the aorta, lies behind the sternum, behind the manubrium of the sternum. The anterior intercostal artery, which carries blood from both left subclavian and the lower half of both vertebral arteries, and the right intercostal trunk artery, which drains blood from the first half of the right vertebral and right brachiocephalic arteries, take part in the formation of the artery in the lower thoracic region. The aorta and its main branches give anastomoses.