nervi intercostales

[TA] intercostal nerves: anterior rami of the first eleven thoracic spinal nerves, situated between the ribs. The first three send branches to the brachial plexus as well as to the thoracic wall; the fourth, fifth, and sixth supply only the thoracic wall; and the seventh through eleventh are thoracoabdominal in distribution. Called also rami anteriores nervorum thoracicum [TA alternative] and rami ventrales nervorum thoracicorum [TA alternative]. The primary anterior division of the twelfth thoracic nerve is subcostal rather than intercostal in position and is known as the subcostal nerve (see nervus subcostalis). It differs in course and relationship from the other anterior branches and so is classified separately.