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. 2006 Aug;27(7):1541-2.

Bovine aortic arch variant in humans: clarification of a common misnomer

K F Layton  1 , D F Kallmes, H J Cloft, E P Lindell, V S Cox
Affiliations

Bovine aortic arch variant in humans: clarification of a common misnomer

K F Layton et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006 Aug.

Abstract

The term "bovine arch" is widely used to describe a common anatomic variant of the human aortic arch branching. This so-called bovine aortic arch has no resemblance to the bovine aortic arch. We describe the most common human aortic arch branching patterns and compare these with the bovine aortic arch.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
The most common aortic arch branching pattern found in humans has separate origins for the innominate, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
The second most common pattern of human aortic arch branching has a common origin for the innominate and left common carotid arteries. This pattern has erroneously been referred to as a “bovine arch.”
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
In this variant of aortic arch branching, the left common carotid artery originates separately from the innominate artery. This pattern has also been erroneously referred to as a “bovine arch.”
Fig 4.
Fig 4.
The aortic arch branching pattern found in cattle has a single brachiocephalic trunk originating from the aortic arch and eventually splits into the bilateral subclavian arteries and a bicarotid trunk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Bovine aortic arch.
    Vitek JJ. Vitek JJ. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007 Aug;28(7):1205; author reply 1205. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A0565. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007. PMID: 17698517 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • "Bovine" aortic arch.
    Elster AD. Elster AD. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008 Mar;29(3):E2. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A0861. Epub 2007 Nov 26. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008. PMID: 18039753 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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