Left musculophrenic artery

Looks like

An end branch of the internal thoracic artery running down and out along the lower rib margin.

What it does

Supplies the diaphragm and the lower rib spaces.

Keeping it well

Rarely a problem; may bleed in chest drain or surgery at the lower ribs.

Related conditions

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Takayasu arteritis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)