Arch of the aorta (Arcus aortae)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The arch joining ascending to descending aorta behind the lower trachea; from its summit arise three branches — brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian — the highway to head and arms.
Clinical notes
Congenital coarctation (pre-ductal) gives an arm-leg pressure gradient and rib notching on X-ray; syphilitic arch aneurysm is the classic historical lesion.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Arch of the aorta?
The arch joining ascending to descending aorta behind the lower trachea; from its summit arise three branches — brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian — the highway to head and arms.
Why is the Arch of the aorta clinically important?
Congenital coarctation (pre-ductal) gives an arm-leg pressure gradient and rib notching on X-ray; syphilitic arch aneurysm is the classic historical lesion.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details