Nerves Thoracic Ventral

Ventral thoracic nerves (lat. n. thoracici ventrales) are branches of the spinal nerves that innervate the muscles and skin of the chest.

These nerves arise from the ventral rami of the thoracic spinal nerves (Th1-Th11). Each thoracic ventral nerve divides into lateral and medial branches.

The lateral branches innervate the intercostal muscles and the skin of the lateral surface of the chest.

The medial branches pass through the intercostal spaces to the muscles and skin of the anterior surface of the chest. They form the thoracic nerve plexuses, from which the anterior cutaneous branches arise.