thoracic artery
noun Anatomy.
any of several arteries that distribute blood to the muscles and organs of the thorax: used as a replacement artery in coronary bypass surgery.
Also called
mammary artery.
Origin of thoracic artery
First recorded in 1720–30
Words nearby thoracic artery
thorac-,
thoracalgia,
thoracectomy,
thoracentesis,
thoracic,
thoracic artery,
thoracic cage,
thoracic cardiac nerve,
thoracic cavity,
thoracic duct,
thoracic ganglion
Medical definitions for mammary artery
thoracic artery
n.
The internal mammary artery, with origin in the subclavian artery and bifurcations to the musculophrenic and superior epigastric arteries; internal thoracic artery.
The external mammary artery, with origin in the axillary artery and distribution to the muscles of the chest and mammary gland; lateral thoracic artery.
An artery with origin in the axillary artery, with distribution to the muscles of the chest, and with anastomoses to the branches of the suprascapular, internal thoracic, and thoracoacromial arteries; superior thoracic artery.