internal mammary artery


in·ter·nal tho·rac·ic ar·ter·y

[TA] origin, subclavian; branches, pericardiacophrenic, anterior intercostal, sternal, mediastinal, thymic, bronchial, muscular, and perforating branches, and bifurcates into the musculophrenic and superior epigastric. Synonym(s): arteria thoracica interna [TA], arteria mammaria interna, internal mammary artery

internal mammary artery

Abbreviation: IMA
A branch of the subclavian artery that runs down the anterior wall of the thorax lateral to the sternum. Its branches include the anterior intercostal arteries, which supply blood to the anterior (sternal) segments of the upper nine intercostal spaces, and the musculophrenic arteries, which supply blood to the anterior (sternal) segments of intercostal spaces 7 to 11. The internal mammary artery continues in the abdominal wall as the superior epigastric artery. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is the artery most commonly used in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Synonym: internal thoracic arterySee also: artery