THE BRANCHES OF THE AORTIC ARCH. THREE CASE PRESENTATIONS OF THE ANATOMICAL VARIANTS
Abstract:
The branches of the aortic arch, according to the classic anatomical description are
represented by the brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) being the largest of the vessels, left common carotid
artery (LCC) and left subclavian artery (LS). The origin of the LCC artery is more to the left close to the
origin of the LS. However this configuration is only present in 80% of the cases, variations in the
disposition of the 3 “classic” branches or the number of arteries arising from the arch can occur (4) The
presence of anatomical variations is very close related to the abnormal development of the aortic
arches, and development of the heart in the embryonic life. The paper presents 3 cases of variants in the
classic configuration of the branches of the aortic arch. In 2 of the cases the left vertebral (LV) artery
arises from the aortic arch, between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery: one
case in a 7 moth spontaneously aborted human foetus, and one in an adult. In the third case, the left
subclavian artery was the largest of the 3 vessels and the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk and left
common carotid arteries are very close.
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