We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

What is the Subclavian Artery?

By Vanessa Harvey
Updated Feb 27, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The subclavian artery is a large, major blood vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the chest and upper limbs of the body. There are right and left subclavian arteries, and they received their name from the fact that they are both located under the clavicles, commonly known as the collar bones. On the right side of the body, the subclavian artery originates as a branch off the brachiocephalic artery or trunk, also known as the innominate artery. Branching off directly from the aortic arch is the left subclavian artery. Although the right artery doesn't branch directly from the aorta like the left does, its origin, the brachiocephalic artery, is a direct branch from the aorta.

Different sections of the subclavian artery have different names. Starting from the origin of the right artery, which is the brachiocephalic artery, and extending to the outer border or edge of the first rib is the subclavian artery. The section that extends from the edge of the first rib to the axilla or armpit is called the axillary artery. Extending from the axillary artery to the bend of the elbow is the division known as the brachial artery, and from the elbow it bifurcates or branches downward into two arteries — the radial and the ulna. Regardless of the various names, all sections are essentially a part of the right or left subclavian artery.

Arteries differ in size as they branch off in all directions to supply oxygenated blood to the entire body. The smallest of them are called arterioles and the largest is the aorta — the origin of all branches that comprise this entire network of blood vessels responsible for transporting blood away from the heart. All arteries except the pulmonary ones carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

There is a significant amount of pressure in arteries because of the pumping of the heart, and this pressure can be felt at various locations throughout the body. When a major artery lies close to the surface of the skin and crosses over a bone, each surge of a beating heart can be felt; this essentially is what a pulse is. When checking for adequate circulation in a person, a health care provider often will feel for the pulse generated in the radial artery, which is the branch of the subclavian artery located in the forearm. In infants, it is the brachial pulse — the pulse in the brachial artery located in the upper arm — that usually is registered.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.