Aortic arch

Aortic arch

Infobox Artery
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = arcus aortae
GraySubject = 142
GrayPage = 547


Caption = Plan of the branches.


Caption2 = The arch of the aorta, and its branches.
BranchFrom = ascending aorta
BranchTo = brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, left subclavian artery
Vein =
Supplies =
Precursor = fourth aortic arch | MeshName = Aortic+Arch
MeshNumber = A07.231.114.056.372
DorlandsPre = a_58
DorlandsSuf = 12150514
:"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.

Relations

The Arch of Aorta (Aortic Arch) is covered anteriorly by the pleura and anterior margins of the lungs, and by the remains of the thymus.

As the vessel runs backward its left side is in contact with the left lung and pleura.

Passing downward on the left side of this part of the arch are four nerves; in order from before backward these are, the left phrenic, the lower of the superior cardiac branches of the left vagus, the superior cardiac branch of the left sympathetic, and the trunk of the left vagus.

As the left vagus nerve crosses the arch, it gives off its recurrent branch, which hooks around below the vessel and then passes upward on its right side.

The highest left intercostal vein runs obliquely upward and forward on the left side of the arch, between the phrenic and vagus nerves.

On the right are the deep part of the cardiac plexus, the left recurrent nerve, the esophagus, and the thoracic duct; the trachea lies behind and to the right of the vessel.

Above are the innominate, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries, which arise from the convexity of the arch and are crossed close to their origins by the left innominate vein.

Below are the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery, the left bronchus, the ligamentum arteriosum, the superficial part of the cardiac plexus, and the left recurrent nerve.

The ligamentum arteriosum connects the commencement of the left pulmonary artery to the aortic arch.


=Additional


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aortic arch — The aortic arch is the second section of the aorta, the largest artery in the body. The aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart and first goes up, then bends, and goes down. The part that goes up is termed the ascending aorta, the part… …   Medical dictionary

  • aortic arch syndrome — ▪ pathology       group of disorders that cause blockage of the vessels that branch off from the aorta in the area in which the aorta arches over the heart. The aorta is the principal vessel through which the heart pumps oxygen rich blood into… …   Universalium

  • aortic arch syndrome — any of a group of disorders leading to occlusion of the arteries arising from the aortic arch; causes include atherosclerosis, arterial embolism, syphilitic or tuberculous arteritis, and other conditions. See also Takayasu arteritis, under… …   Medical dictionary

  • aortic arch — noun the part of the aorta that arches and turns downward • Hypernyms: ↑aorta * * * noun : one of the branches that arise from the ascending aorta in pairs in fishes and the embryos of higher vertebrates and pass to the gill clefts of either side …   Useful english dictionary

  • aortic arch — aor′tic arch′ n. one member of a series of paired curved blood vessels that arise in the embryo from the ventral aorta, pass around the pharynx through the branchial arches, and join with the dorsal aorta to form the great vessels of the head and …   From formal English to slang

  • aortic arch — noun Date: 1868 one of the arterial branches in vertebrate embryos that exist in a series of pairs with one on each side of the embryo, connect the ventral arterial system lying anterior to the heart to the dorsal arterial system above the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • aortic arch — Embryol. one member of a series of paired curved blood vessels that arise in the embryo from the ventral aorta, pass around the pharynx through the branchial arches, and join with the dorsal aorta to form the great vessels of the head and neck.… …   Universalium

  • aortic arch — that part of the aorta that extends from the ascending aorta, upward over the heart and then backward and down as far as the fourth thoracic vertebra. Stretch receptors in its outer wall monitor blood pressure and form part of the system… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Double aortic arch — Classification and external resources DiseasesDB 33811 MedlinePlus 007316 …   Wikipedia

  • Interrupted aortic arch — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = ICD10 = ICD10|Q|25|2|q|20 (EUROCAT) ICD9 = ICD9|747.11 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = ped eMedicineTopic = 2515 MeshID = Interrupted aortic arch is a very rare heart defect in… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”