There are 9 anterior and 11 posterior intercostal arteries on each side of the body.

The mnemonic "VAN" is commonly used to recall their order from superior to inferior.

The right aortic intercostals are longer than the left because of the position of the aorta on the left side of the vertebral column; they pass across the bodies of the vertebrae behind the esophagus, thoracic duct, and azygos vein, and are covered by the right lung and pleura.

The sympathetic trunk (opposite the heads of the ribs) and splanchnic nerves pass anterior to the arteries.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 584 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)