Aortic arch

The aortic arch ( aortic arch ) is a section of the main artery ( aorta) in close proximity to their origin from the heart. He is outside the pericardium cavity in the mediastinum and is at the fourth thoracic vertebra in the vertically descending Aortenanteil ( descending aorta ) via. At the aortic arch spring from the main vascular trunks for the head, neck and upper limb.

The aortic arch arises from the left fourth branchial arch artery. The disposals of the aortic arch vary within the mammals, due to the complex Umbildungsprozesse during embryogenesis.

When people go out of his left carotid artery ( common carotid artery ) and the left subclavian artery ( subclavian artery ) produced. The corresponding vessels of the right side spring a common brachiocephalic trunk, the trunk. In pigs and predators on the other hand, the left carotid artery from the innominate artery arises from the brachiocephalic and only the left subclavian artery is separately starting from the aortic arch. In horses and ruminants spring all four vessel brachiocephalic trunks from the trunk.

Diseases

The closure of the outlets of the aortic arch leads to the aortic arch syndrome. Malformations of the aortic arch are the coarctation of the aorta (see also Shone complex) and the interrupted aortic arch. A vascular inflammation in the aortic arch may be the cause of polymyalgia rheumatica. Approximately 60% of cases of aortic dissection are localized in the aortic arch.