Artery Arterial Origin Supplies Comments

Head and Neck

Common carotid Right = brachiocephalic Head and neck Note asymmetric left/right origin
Left = aortic arch
External & internal carotid Common carotid Head and neck Bifurcation at superior border of thyroid
cartilage ~C4
Superior thyroid External carotid Thyroid, larynx
Ascending pharyngeal External carotid Pharynx and deep cervical structures Not likely to be important
Lingual External carotid Tongue and floor of mouth
Facial External carotid Face, submandibular gland, floor of mouth,
tonsils (via tonsillar branch)
Occipital External carotid Posterior scalp
Posterior auricular External carotid Posterior to ear: muscles, skin, etc Not likely to be important
Maxillary External carotid Many branches to the ear (including Maxillary artery courses thru the infratemporal
tympanic membrane), surrounding muscles fossa
(including muscles of mastication), skin, Middle meningeal artery passes into cranium via
bone, teeth, pharynx, sinuses, and palate foramen spinosum

Important named branches:

Superficial temporal
Internal carotid
Ophthalmic
Anterior cerebral
Middle cerebral
Vertebral
Basilar
Inferior alveolar – mandible, mandibular
teeth, skin on chin
Middle meningeal – Dura, skull, trigeminal
ganglion, tympanic cavity
Infraorbital – maxillary teeth, some muscles
in orbit, skin of cheeks and nose
Sphenopalatine – nasal cavity, palate, frontal,
ethmoidal, sphenoid, and maxillary sinuses
External carotid Scalp
Common carotid Intracranial structures Internal carotid does NO branching outside
cranium
Carotid body is located at bifurcation of
common carotid; carotid sinus is in proximal
internal carotid (inn. by CN IX)
Internal carotid Orbit including eye and retina, nasal cavity, Ophthalmic artery enters orbit thru optic canal
ethmoid and frontal sinuses, upper nose, with the optic nerve
forehead and anterior scalp
Internal carotid Medial and superior surfaces of cerebrum These branches of the internal carotid are
and frontal pole (excludes occipital lobes) considered the anterior circulation of the brain
Internal carotid Lateral surface of cerebrum and temporal Middle cerebral is a direct continuation of the
pole internal carotid
Subclavian Brain and spinal cord
Vertebral Brainstem, cerebellum, and posterior Formed by the union of the right and left
cerebrum vertebral
 Posterior cerebral Basilar Inferior surface of brain and occipital pole
Posterior communicating Posterior cerebral Optic tract, cerebral peduncles, thalamus,
internal capsule
Anterior (1) and posterior (2) spinal Vertebral Spinal cord For more on blood supply to the spinal cord see
arteries (longitudinal) below for segmental spinal branches
Artery Arterial Origin Supplies Comments
Thorax

Posterior intercostals
Spinal branches (segmental arteries)
Radicular (anterior and posterior)
Segmental medullary (anterior and
posterior)
Great anterior segmental medullary
artery (of Adamkiewicz)
Internal thoracic
Anterior intercostals
Pericardiophrenic
Musculophrenic
Superior epigastric
Artery
Upper limb
Descending aorta Body wall (thorax and abdomen), vertebral Paired arteries from the thoracic aorta
column, spinal cord, diaphragm
Vertebral, posterior Spinal nerve roots and spinal cord
intercostals, lumbars, or lateral
sacrals (depending on level of
spinal cord)
Spinal branch Spinal nerve roots These radicular arteries typically do NOT reach
the spinal cord
Spinal branch Spinal cord These segmental medullary arteries replace the
radicular arteries at irregular intervals and feed
the longitudinal spinal arteries
Spinal branch Spinal cord This larger than normal anterior segmental
medullary artery reinforces circulation to 2/3 of
spinal cord including lumbar enlargement
(located in lower thoracic region, usually on left
- 65%)
Subclavian Anterior body wall Run lateral to sternum on inner surface of
anterior body wall (chest plate)
Internal thoracic Body wall, anterior chest wall including Anastomsis with posterior intercostals
breast (via perforating branches)
Internal thoracic Pericardial sac, diaphragm Run with phrenic nerves between mediastinal
parietal pleura and fibrous pericardium
Internal thoracic Diaphragm (periphery) A terminal branch of internal thoracic
Internal thoracic Anterior abdominal wall Other terminal branch of internal thoracic
Anastomosis with inferior epigastric
Arterial Origin Supplies Comments

Subclavian R = brachiocephalic Upper limb, head and neck, thorax Divided into 3 parts by the anterior scalene
L = aortic arch Affected in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
Thyrocervical trunk Subclavian Thyroid, shoulder
Transverse cervical & suprascapular Thyrocervical trunk Shoulder Participates in scapular anastomosis, which links
1st part of subclavian with 3rd part of axillary
providing collateral route of blood flow to upper
limb
Axillary Subclavian Shoulder, upper limb, breast Continuation of subclavian beyond lateral border
of 1st rib
Divided into 3 parts by the pectoralis minor
 muscle; 2nd part associated with cords of brachial
plexus
Thoracoacromial trunk Axillary Shoulder and chest
Lateral thoracic Axillary Body wall including muscles and breast Courses with long thoracic nerve (C5C6C7)
Subscapular Axillary Shoulder, body wall
Scapular circumflex Subscapular Shoulder Participates in scapular anastomosis, which links
1st part of subclavian with 3rd part of axillary
providing collateral route of blood flow to upper
limb
Thoracodorsal Subscapular Latissimus dorsi Courses with thoracodorsal nerve from posterior
cord
Posterior & anterior humeral circumflex Axillary Arm and shoulder Posterior humeral circumflex travels with
axillary nerve through quadrangular space
Brachial Axillary Arm Direct continuation of axillary artery distal to the
posterior axillary fold (teres major + lat dorsi)
Bifurcates in cubital fossa deep to bicipital
aponeurosis
Within the cubital fossa, lies lateral to the
median nerve, and medial to the biceps tendon
(TAN – from lateral to medial: biceps Tendon,
brachial Artery, and median Nerve)
Deep brachial Brachial Arm Courses with radial nerve in radial groove of
humerus, between heads of triceps
Ulnar Brachial Forearm and hand Courses with the ulnar nerve between flexor
carpi ulnaris (FCU) and flexor digitorum
profundus (FDP)
Common interosseous Ulnar Deep forearm via anterior and posterior Unlikely you’ll need to know this for boards
interosseous branches
Radial Brachial Forearm and hand Courses with superficial radial nerve deep to
brachioradialis muscle
Radial pulse at wrist taken lateral to tendon of
flexor carpi radialis (FCR)
Passes thru anatomical snuff box
Pierces 1st dorsal webspace to become deep
palmar arch
Superficial palmar arch Ulnar Hand Continuation of ulnar artery in palm of hand
Digitals (common and proper) Superficial palmar arch Fingers (2nd – 5th digits) including nailbed Digital arteries are end arteries (inadequate
anastomosis)
Deep palmar arch Radial Metacarsals
Radialis indicis and princeps pollicis Radial Index finger (thumb side) and thumb,
respectively
 Artery Arterial Origin Supplies Comments
Abdomen

Inferior phrenic Abdominal aorta Diaphragm Paired branches from aorta – venous drainage
Renal Abdominal aorta Kidney into caval (systemic) venous circulation
Gonadal Abdominal aorta Gonads
Lumbar Abdominal aorta Vertebrae and spinal nerve roots and spinal
cord
Median sacral Abdominal aorta Sacrum Unpaired; comes from posterior aspect of aorta
at level of bifurcation
Celiac Abdominal aorta Foregut via main branches: L gastric, L1
Common hepatic, Splenic
Superior mesenteric Abdominal aorta Midgut (Right colon and small intestines) L1
Inferior mesenteric Abdominal aorta Hindgut (Left colon and rectum) L3
Common iliac Abdominal aorta Bifurcation of aorta at L4
External iliac Common iliac Bifurcation of common iliac at L5S1 IV disc
Inferior epigastric External iliac Anterior abdominal wall Anastomosis with superior epigastric
Lateral border of inguinal (Hesselbach’s)
triangle
Use to distinguish direct (thru triangle) and
indirect (thru deep inguinal ring) hernias
Artery Arterial Origin Supplies Comments
Pelvis

Internal iliac Common iliac Pelvis, perineum, and gluteal region Anterior and posterior divisions – visceral
branches (to pelvic organs) are off anterior
division
Umbilical Internal iliac Obliterated artery enters medial umbilical fold
Superior vesical Umbilical Bladder
Obturator Internal iliac Medial thigh Exits pelvis thru obturator canal along with
obturator nerve
Uterine (female) Internal iliac Uterus Passes from lateral pelvic wall to uterus thru
transverse cervical ligament, passes superior to
ureter (“water under the bridge”; ureter is
vulnerable here)
Travels superiorly in broad ligament along
uterine body to anastomose with ovarian arteries
Vaginal (female) Internal iliac or uterine Vagina Anastomosis with uterine artery
Inferior vesical (male) Internal iliac Prostate, bladder, vas deferens (via
deferential artery)
Middle rectal Internal iliac Rectum
Internal pudendal Internal iliac Perineum (including anal canal and genitalia) Courses with pudendal nerve, passing into
perineum by hooking around ischial spine and
 sacrospinous ligament
Travels in pudendal canal (tunnel thru obturator
fascia)
Primary blood supply to perineum
Inferior rectal Internal pudendal Anal canal Leaves pudendal canal and courses medially
through ischioanal fossa to anal canal
Superior & inferior gluteal Internal iliac Gluteal muscles Exit pelvis thru greater sciatic foramen by
passing above and below piriformis muscle,
respectively
Artery Arterial Origin Supplies Comments
Lower Limb

Femoral External iliac Lower limb, groin, perineum Direct continuation of external iliac artery after
it passes under inguinal ligament
In femoral triangle, it lies medial to the femoral
nerve and lateral to the femoral vein (NAVEL)
Deep femoral Femoral Thigh Branches from femoral 1 – 2 inches below
inguinal ligament in femoral triangle
Medial & lateral femoral circumflex Deep femoral Femoral neck and head Very important in cases of hip fractures
proximal to the intertrochanteric line
May branch from femoral
Popliteal Femoral Knee and leg Direct continuation of femoral after it goes thru
adductor hiatus and into the popliteal fossa
Bifurcates at inferior border of popliteus muscle
Geniculars Popliteal Knee joint
Anterior tibial Popliteal Anterior leg and lateral leg (via perforating Passes thru opening in interosseous membrane to
branches) enter the anterior leg compartment
Courses with deep fibular nerve
Dorsalis pedis Anterior tibial Foot Direct continuation of anterior tibial distal to the
ankle joint
Pulse felt lateral to extensor hallucis longus
(EHL) tendon
Posterior tibial Popliteal Posterior leg, nutrient artery to tibia Runs in deep posterior compartment along with
tibial nerve
Passes thru tarsal tunnel
Fibular Posterior tibial Posterior leg and lateral leg (via perforating Stays in posterior compartment, does not enter
branches), nutrient artery to fibula lateral compartment
Not accompanied by a nerve
Medial & lateral plantar Posterior tibial Plantar surface of foot Branch from posterior tibial at or before it
emerges from tarsal tunnel
Plantar arch Toes including nailbed Lateral plantar Direct continuation of lateral plantar artery
Anastomosis with medial plantar and branch of
dorsalis pedis
**Note: Obviously this list is NOT all inclusive. I’ve attempted to give you the “biggest bang for the buck” so-to-speak, based on my assessment of the level of detail
of blood supply questions from the boards. Going into more detail than this would provide serious diminishing returns for the effort you’d expend. ~Dr. Bice