Lateral costal artery in Thais.

ABSTRACT

A study on the incidence of the lateral costal artery was performed upon 117 Thai cadavers; 69 males and 48 females. The artery was found in 14 cases (11.97%), 11 males and 3 females. Bilateral arteries were observed in 5 cadavers. In 5 cadavers the artery occurred on the right side, and in 4 cases it was seen on the left. Most of the arteries terminated in the second, the third and the fourth intercostal spaces. Only in the case of an 84-year-old male with the bilateral arteries had the right artery end in the seventh intercostals space while the left artery reached to the fifth. All lateral costal arteries rose from the internal thoracic region.