Left subclavian artery

Looks like

A large artery arching over the top of the lung and under the collarbone; the right from the brachiocephalic trunk, the left from the aorta.

What it does

Supplies the arm and gives branches to the brain (vertebral artery), neck, chest wall and breast.

Keeping it well

Narrowing gives a weaker arm pulse and a blood pressure difference between arms; over 15 mmHg needs a check.

Its parts

• Left internal thoracic artery
• Left thoraco-acromial artery
• Left lateral thoracic artery
• Left subscapular artery
• Left anterior circumflex humeral artery
• Left posterior circumflex humeral artery
• Left thyrocervical artery
• Left costocervical artery

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)