Aortic branch variations: An anatomical study in 900 subjects

Abstract

The anatomic variations in the branches arising from the aortic arch in 900 Caucasian subjects and the exact origin of the right subclavian artery, the right common carotid artery, the left common carotid artery, the left subclavian artery, the right vertebral artery, and the left vertebral artery were analyzed by means of angio-computerized tomography. Seven hundred and thirty-four subjects (81.55%) had three branches arising from the aortic arch, 126 subjects (14%) had 2 branches and 40 subjects (4.44%) had 4 branches. In addition, the following anatomic variations were found: The left common carotid was observed arising from the brachiocephalic trunk in 80 subjects (8.88%); the left carotid and the brachiocephalic trunk arose from a common stem, which in turn arose directly from the aortic arch in 46 subjects (5.11%); the right common carotid and the right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) arose directly from the aortic arch in 30 (3.33%) and 4 subjects (0.44%), respectively; the left vertebral artery and the right vertebral artery arose directly from the aortic arch in 16 (1.77%) and 2 subjects (0.22%), respectively. The study revealed that more than 20% of the Caucasian subjects had anatomical variations in the aortic arch branches. Key words: Aortic arch, arteries, vessels.