The superior epigastric artery is a blood vessel located in the lower part of thorax and upper region of abdomen. It is one of the two terminal branches into which the internal thoracic artery divides at the end of its long course, the other being the musculophrenic artery. The superior epigastric travels almost vertically, following the original direction of the internal thoracic artery. Function: it conveys oxygenated blood to supply the rectus abdominis muscle and a portion of the diaphragm.
The superior epigastric artery originates from the internal thoracic as its left terminal branch. Then it runs downwards behind the costal cartilage of the rib cage, piercing the posterior wall of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. It travels downwards on the posterior surface of this muscle, perforating it with side branches to supply it. It also gives off collateral branches to supply the falciform ligament of liver and the skin. Another side arterial branch of the superior epigastric runs medially and anastomoses with its counterpart of the contra-lateral side. Before perforating the rectus abdominis, the superior epigastric also gives off some small branches to supply a portion of the diaphragm.
At the end of its course, the superior epigastric anastomoses with the inferior epigastric artery, which arises from the external iliac artery. A congenitally narrowed aorta, due to coarctation, is often associated with a significant enlargement, or hypertrophy, of the internal thoracic and superior epigastric artery. This is so due to the fact that, along with the brachiocephalic and subclavian artery, they are collateral branches to the thoracic aorta.
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| The superior epigastric is a final branch of the internal thoracic artery. |