Aortic arch Information & Aortic arch Links at HealthHaven.com

Artery: Aortic arch
	Plan of the branches.
	The arch of the aorta, and its branches.
Latin	arcus aortae
Gray's	subject #142 547
Source	ascending aorta
Branches	brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, left subclavian artery
Precursor	fourth aortic arch
MeSH	Aortic+Arch

For the embryological structure, see Aortic arches.

The arch of the aorta (Transverse Aorta) begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side, and runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea and finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra, at the lower border of which it becomes continuous with the descending aorta.

It thus forms two curvatures: one with its convexity upward, the other with its convexity forward and to the left. Its upper border is usually about 2.5 cm. below the superior border to the manubrium sterni.

The ligamentum arteriosum connects the commencement of the left pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. The blood bypasses the lungs through the ductusarteriosus during embryonic circulation .this becomes ligamentum arteriosum as pulmonary circulation begins.

[edit] Additional images

Diagram showing the origins of the main branches of the carotid arteries.

Front view of heart and lungs.

Course and distribution of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves.

Heart left lateral view

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.