The intercostal artery XII is one of the large branches of the thoracic aorta. Along the spine it branches along the 12th thoracic vertebrae on the right and left, being a branch of the lumbar artery. At the base of the neck, it forms a connecting canal with the thoracic aorta in the form of a looped line, forming the interventricular artery. The branches of this artery form the second arterial ring around the heart.
How does it supply blood?
The branches of the intercostal XI and XII arteries provide the most complete blood supply to the human lungs and heart. These are the main nutrient vessels for the respiratory organs. In medicine, this is very important to know if, for example, a person develops a number of pathologies associated with the arteries of this area of the bloodstream, which are expressed in their ischemia.