Posterior intercostal arteries

The posterior intercostal arteries (singular artery intercostal posterior, " posterior intercostal artery " ) are bilateral segmental arteries of the chest wall. In animal anatomy, they are called dorsal intercostal arteries. The first posterior intercostal arteries arise artery intercostal suprema, the rest of the aorta.

The posterior intercostal arteries pull in the direction of the ribs necks, the right coat the respective vertebral body due to the slightly further left position of the aorta. Then they pull the lower edge ( in animals according to the trailing edge ) of the respective rib along. They supply the muscles and skin thereby of the corresponding intercostal space. In the direction of the sternum they anastomose with the anterior intercostal arteries. In addition, from the rear intercostal arteries go the posterior spinal arteries and anterior into the spinal canal.