EpigastricArterien

Epigastric arteries are a pair of arteries located in the upper abdomen, near the stomach. They are branches of the internal thoracic arteries, which are themselves branches of the subclavian arteries. The epigastric arteries supply blood to the abdominal wall, including the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles of the upper abdomen. They also supply blood to the rectus abdominis muscle, which is the largest muscle in the abdominal wall. The epigastric arteries are accompanied by epigastric veins, which drain blood from the abdominal wall and return it to the venous system. The epigastric arteries are clinically significant because they can be used as a source of blood for surgical procedures, such as coronary artery bypass grafting. They can also be used to diagnose certain conditions, such as abdominal aortic aneurysms, by performing an epigastric ultrasound.