ABSTRACT
The breast does not have a blood supply from a single artery. Perforating branches from the internal mammary artery supply the medial and deep parts of the breast. These branches anastomose with branches from the axillary artery and the lateral thoracic artery. Branches from the thoracoacromial trunk and some intercostal vessels supply the deeper aspects of the gland. The venous drainage of the breast generally corresponds to the arterial supply. Veins beneath the areola form an anastomotic circle (circulus venosus), which together with deeper veins carries blood to the periphery of the gland where venous outfl ow is via the internal thoracic, lateral thoracic, and upper intercostal veins.
