esophageal branches of thoracic part of aorta esophageal branches of thoracic part of aorta the esophageal arteries four or five in number, arise from the front of the aorta, and pass obliquely downward to the esophagus, forming a chain of anastomoses along that tube, anastomosing with the esophageal branches of the inferior thyroid arteries above, and with ascending branches from the left inferior phrenic and left gastric arteries below. these arteries supply the middle third of the esophagus. esophageal branches of thoracic part of aortadetailssourcedescending aortaveinesophageal veinssuppliesesophagusidentifierslatinrami oesophageales partis thoracicae aortaeta98a12.2.11.003ta24188fma71537anatomical terminology