The course of Subclavian Artery from its origin is as follows.

• Lateral Side; between anterior and middle Scalene Muscles

• Anterior Side; courses with Anterior Scalene

• Posterior Side; courses with Middle Scalene

Passing the lateral border of the First Rib Subclavian Artery becomes the Axillary Artery. Subclavian Artery has three parts i.e.

• First Part:

It originates from the medial border of Scalenus Anterior (Muscle lying deeply in the side of Neck) and give rise to the branches of Vertebral Artery, Internal Thoracic Artery and Thyrocervical Trunk (first portion of Subclavian Artery).

• Second Part:

It lies behind the Scalenus Anterior and has branches of Costocervical Trunk (upper and back part of the Subclavian Artery).

• Third Part:

It is in between the Lateral border of Scalenus Anterior and outer border of First Rib with branch of Dorsal Scapular Artery.

FUNCTION

Subclavian Artery is a pair of Left and Right Subclavian Arteries. Left Subclavian Artery supplies blood to the Left arm and Right Subclavian Artery supplies blood to the Right arm with some of their branches supplying blood to the Head and Thorax.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Aneurysm can develop in one or the both Subclavian arteries. Some of the causes responsible for Aneurysm of Subclavian Artery are as follows.

• Post traumatic cause like being shot

• Thoracic Outlet Obstruction

• Arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries)

• Malpositioning