Anterior humeral circumflex artery

The anterior humeral circumflex artery (anterior circumflex artery, anterior circumflex humeral artery), considerably smaller than the posterior, arises nearly opposite it, from the lateral side of the axillary artery.

It runs horizontally, beneath the Coracobrachialis and short head of the Biceps brachii, in front of the neck of the humerus.

On reaching the intertubercular sulcus, it gives off a branch which ascends in the sulcus to supply the head of the humerus and the shoulder-joint.

The trunk of the vessel is then continued onward beneath the long head of the Biceps brachii and the Deltoideus, and anastomoses with the posterior humeral circumflex artery.