Internal Mammary Artery

The internal mammary artery is a blood vessel that runs vertically along each side of the chest, inside the chest wall. It supplies blood to the chest muscles, breast tissue, and some parts of the heart. Because of its reliable location and strong flow, doctors often use it in heart bypass surgery to connect to blocked coronary arteries, helping restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Its durability and consistent blood supply make it an important vessel both naturally and in medical procedures.