superior epigastric artery


su·pe·ri·or ep·i·gas·tric ar·ter·y

[TA] origin, the medial terminal branch of internal thoracic; distribution, abdominal muscles and integument, falciform ligament; anastomoses, inferior epigastric. Synonym(s): arteria epigastrica superior [TA]

su·pe·ri·or ep·i·gas·tric ar·te·ry

(sŭ-pēr'ē-ŏr ep'i-gas'trik ahr'tĕr-ē) [TA] Origin, the medial terminal branch of internal thoracic; distribution, abdominal muscles and integument, falciform ligament; anastomoses, inferior epigastric.
Synonym(s): arteria epigastrica superior.

superior epigastric artery

The terminal branch of the internal thoracic artery. The superior epigastric artery runs downward through the anterior diaphragm and enters the rectus sheath; it anastomoses with the upward traveling inferior epigastric artery. See also: artery