Thorax: internal thoracic artery: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Thorax: internal thoracic artery

Sample item

A cardiac surgeon harvests the left internal thoracic artery as a pedicle graft. Behind the costal cartilages it descends about a centimetre from the sternal edge. Into which two arteries does it divide at the level of the sixth intercostal space?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries

The internal thoracic artery arises from the first part of the subclavian artery and ends behind the sixth costal cartilage by dividing into the superior epigastric artery, which enters the rectus sheath, and the musculophrenic artery, which runs along the costal margin. The superior epigastric anastomoses with the inferior epigastric artery.

Option by option

  • A. Inferior epigastric and deep circumflex iliac arteries

    These arise from the external iliac artery in the lower abdomen.

  • B. Posterior intercostal and lateral thoracic arteries

    Posterior intercostals come from the aorta, and the lateral thoracic artery from the axillary artery.

  • C. Pericardiacophrenic and anterior intercostal arteries

    These are branches of the internal thoracic artery along its course but not its terminal pair.

  • D. Superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries (correct)

    Correct. The superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries are the terminal branches.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is D, Superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries. The internal thoracic artery arises from the first part of the subclavian artery and ends behind the sixth costal cartilage by dividing into the superior epigastric artery, which enters the rectus sheath, and the musculophrenic artery, which runs along the costal margin.

Why is "Inferior epigastric and deep circumflex iliac arteries" not the answer?

These arise from the external iliac artery in the lower abdomen.

Why is "Posterior intercostal and lateral thoracic arteries" not the answer?

Posterior intercostals come from the aorta, and the lateral thoracic artery from the axillary artery.

Why is "Pericardiacophrenic and anterior intercostal arteries" not the answer?

These are branches of the internal thoracic artery along its course but not its terminal pair.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: internal thoracic artery in Anatomy. The superior epigastric anastomoses with the inferior epigastric artery.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thorax: internal thoracic artery?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.