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. 2013 Sep 12:2013:828969.
doi: 10.5402/2013/828969. eCollection 2013.

Anatomical variations in the branching pattern of human aortic arch: a cadaveric study from central India

Virendra Budhiraja  1 , Rakhi Rastogi  1 , Vaishali Jain  2 , Vishal Bankwar  3 , Shiv Raghuwanshi  4
Affiliations

Anatomical variations in the branching pattern of human aortic arch: a cadaveric study from central India

Virendra Budhiraja et al. ISRN Anat. .

Abstract

Variations of the branches of aortic arch are due to alteration in the development of certain branchial arch arteries during embryonic period. Knowledge of these variations is important during aortic instrumentation, thoracic, and neck surgeries. In the present study we observed these variations in fifty-two cadavers from Indian populations. In thirty-three (63.5%) cadavers, the aortic arch showed classical branching pattern which includes brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery. In nineteen (36.5%) cadavers it showed variations in the branching pattern, which include the two branches, namely, left subclavian artery and a common trunk in 19.2% cases, four branches, namely, brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery, left vertebral artery, and left subclavian artery in 15.3% cases, and the three branches, namely, common trunk, left vertebral artery, and left subclavian artery in 1.9% cases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Aortic arch showing classical branching pattern. BCT: brachiocephalic trunk, LCCA: left common carotid artery, LSA: left subclavian artery, and TR: trachea.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Aortic arch showing two branches (common trunk for brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery). CT: common trunk, BCT: brachiocephalic trunk, LCCA: left common carotid artery, LSA: left subclavian artery, and TR: trachea.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Aortic arch showing four branches. BCT: brachiocephalic trunk, LCCA: left common carotid artery, LVA: left vertebral artery, and LSA: left subclavian artery.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Aortic arch showing three branches (common trunk for brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery). CT: common trunk, BCT: brachiocephalic trunk, LCCA: left common carotid artery, LSA: left subclavian artery, LVA: left vertebral artery, and TR: trachea.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Point of origin of Brachiocephalic trunk lying left to midvertebral line. BCT: brachiocephalic trunk, LCCA: left common carotid artery, LSA: left subclavian artery, and TR: trachea.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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