The thoracoacromial artery (acromiothoracic artery; thoracic axis) is a short trunk, which arises from the forepart of the axillary artery

Axillary artery

In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla and the upper limb...

, its origin being generally overlapped by the upper edge of the Pectoralis minor.

Branches

Projecting forward to the upper border of the Pectoralis minor, it pierces the coracoclavicular fascia and divides into four branches—pectoral, acromial, clavicular, and deltoid.

Branch

Description >- | Pectoral Pectoral Pectoral may refer to:* Pectoral cross, a cross worn on the chest* a decorative, usually jeweled version of a gorget* Pectoral , often iconographic with hieroglyphs* Pectoralis major muscle, commonly referred to as "pectorals" or "pecs"...  branch

internal thoracic artery Internal thoracic artery In human anatomy, the internal thoracic artery , previously known as the internal mammary artery , is an artery that supplies the anterior chest wall and the breasts...  and with the lateral thoracic. >- | Acromial branch

coracoid process and under the Deltoideus, to which it gives branches; it then pierces that muscle and ends on the acromion in an arterial network formed by branches from the transverse scapular (a.k.a. suprascapular), thoracoacromial, and posterior humeral circumflex arteries. >- | Clavicular branch

>- | Deltoid Deltoid Deltoid can refer to:* The deltoid muscle, a muscle in the shoulder* Kite , also known as a deltoid, a type of quadrilateral* A deltoid curve, a three-sided hypocycloid* A leaf shape* The deltoid tuberosity, a part of the humerus...  (humeral) branch

Often arising with the acromial, it crosses over the Pectoralis minor and passes in the same groove as the cephalic vein Cephalic vein In human anatomy, the cephalic vein is a superficial vein of the upper limb.It communicates with the basilic vein via the median cubital vein at the elbow and is located in the superficial fascia along the anterolateral surface of the biceps brachii muscle.Superiorly the cephalic vein passes... , between the Pectoralis major and Deltoideus, and gives branches to both muscles.

Mnemonic

Mnemonics used to remember the four branches are:

• "Cadavers Are Dead People" or "ABCD" where Breast (pectoral).
• "All Dogs Can Pee" or "ADCP" where P (pectoral).
• "CAlifornia Police Department" or "CAPD"
• "packed" or "PACD"
• "All People Can Dougie"
  Dougie
  Dougie is a shortened form of the names Douglas and Dougal.-People:*Dougie Brown , former Scottish cricketer*Dougie Donnelly , Scottish television broadcaster*Dougie Freedman , former Scottish professional football player...
  
  

External links

- "Pectoral Region: Thoracoacromial Artery and its Branches" - "The axillary artery and its major branches shown in relation to major landmarks."