blood supply (breast)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The arterial supply of the breast is rich:
- internal thoracic artery; perforating branches supply the majority of the breast's blood supply and the largest branches emerge medially between intercostal spaces 2 to 4
- lateral thoracic artery
- intercostal arteries through intercostal spaces 3 to 5:
- anterior branches
- lateral branches
- axillary artery
- thoracodorsal artery
- subscapular artery
- pectoral arteries
The venous drainage of the breast primarily is directed towards the ipsilateral axilla. Key draining veins include:
- axillary vein
- internal thoracic vein
- lateral thoracic vein
- intercostal veins