Transverse cervical artery

At a glance

English

Transverse cervical artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria transversa colli arteria transversa cervicis

System

Artery

Region

Neck

Side

Paired, left and right

About the transverse cervical artery

The transverse cervical artery, also called the transverse artery of the neck, is one of the branches of the thyrocervical trunk, which comes off the first part of the subclavian artery. It runs across the base of the neck slightly higher than its companion branch, the suprascapular artery.

From its origin it heads laterally across the front of scalenus anterior and the phrenic nerve, then crosses in front of, or threads between, the trunks of the brachial plexus. On this part of its course it lies under sternocleidomastoid and platysma and is crossed by the inferior belly of omohyoid. It then crosses the lower posterior triangle towards levator scapulae and the front edge of trapezius, where it divides.

Its superficial branch, sometimes named the superficial cervical artery, runs on the deep surface of trapezius and splits into ascending and descending parts. The ascending part supplies trapezius, the neighbouring muscles and lymph nodes of the neck and joins the occipital artery. The descending part supplies the middle and lower parts of trapezius. In some people the trunk also gives a deep branch that runs deep to levator scapulae to reach the scapula's superior angle, then down beneath the rhomboids along the medial border of the blade. In most people, however, that deep vessel arises separately from the subclavian artery and is called the dorsal scapular artery.

Through the dorsal scapular, suprascapular and circumflex scapular arteries, the transverse cervical takes part in the scapular anastomosis, a ring of vessels round the shoulder blade that can carry blood to the arm when the subclavian or axillary artery is blocked. The artery is met in operations on the posterior triangle, lymph node clearance of the neck and the transverse cervical flap, and it is often used as a recipient vessel in head and neck reconstruction.

Course and supply

Arises from

Arises from the thyrocervical trunk, which comes off the first part of the subclavian artery; sometimes directly from the subclavian.

Ends in

Divides near levator scapulae and trapezius into a superficial branch (ascending and descending parts) and, in some people, a deep branch equivalent to the dorsal scapular artery.

Supplies

Supplies trapezius, levator scapulae and the rhomboids (when it gives the deep branch), with nearby neck muscles and lymph nodes; contributes to the scapular anastomosis.