pˈæsɪŋ bˈækwɚd, ɪt splˈɪts ˌɪntʊ ðə dˈiːp sˈɜːvɪkəl ˈɑːɹɾɚɹi ænd ðə suːpɹˈiːm ˌɪntɚkˈɔstəl ˈɑːɹɾɚɹi hˈaɪɪst ˌɪntɚkˈɔstəl ˈɑːɹɾɚɹi, wˌɪtʃ dᵻsˈɛndz bᵻhˌaɪnd ðə plˈɜːɹə ɪn fɹˈʌnt ʌvðə nˈɛks ʌvðə fˈɜːst ænd sˈɛkənd ɹˈɪbz, ænd ˈænɐstˌɑːmoʊsᵻz wɪððə fˈɜːst eɪˈoːɹɾɪk ˌɪntɚkˈɔstəl θˈɜːd pɑːstˈɪɹiɚɹ ˌɪntɚkˈɔstəl ˈɑːɹɾɚɹi.
Passing backward, it splits into the deep cervical artery and the supreme intercostal artery (highest intercostal artery), which descends behind the pleura in front of the necks of the first and second ribs, and anastomoses with the first aortic intercostal (3rd posterior intercostal artery).