Sputhnick RR
Arteries
42D | ASCENDING AORTA, AORTIC ARCH, & THORACIC AORTA (COURSE, SYNTOPY & BRANCHES)
References: Kenhub
Ascending Aorta
The ascending aorta begins at the aortic orifice, and is intrapericardial at first, found in the inferior middle
mediastinum. The coronary arteries are the first segment of the aorta, arising from the aortic sinus. The ascending
aorta runs superiorly for 5cm before becoming the aortic arch.
Syntopy
Anterior: pulmonary artery, right auricle and conus arteriosus
Posterior: left atrium, right pulmonary a. and right principle bronchus.
Right: Superior vena cava and right auricle.
, Sputhnick RR
Aortic Arch
A continuation of the ascending aorta, beginning at the sternal angle, posterior to the 2nd Sternocostal joint and is
located in the superior mediastinum.
Path
Ascends Posterosuperiorly to the left, peaking at T2 descending and ending at T4
Syntopy
Inferior: left pulmonary artery, left recurrent laryngeal nerve, and tracheal bifurcation.
Left Ant.: Phrenic & vagus nerve, intercostal vessels.
Right Post.: Thoracic duct, trachea and esophagus.
Branches:
Brachiocephalic trunk on the right and subclavian and common carotid arteries on the left.
Thoracic Aorta
Begins to the left of T4, but approaches the midline as it descends, gradually
moves behind the esophagus and leaves the thorax via the aortic hiatus at T12,
becoming the abdominal aorta.
Syntopy
Anterior: Pericardium, left atrium, left lung hilum & esophagus.
Posterior: Sympathetic chain & hemiazygous Vein.
Rigth: Pleura, lung & thoracic duct.
Left: left lung and pleura.
Branches:
Pericardial branches: consist of a few vessels that supply the posterior aspect of
the pericardium.
Bronchial arteries: they are usually one right and two left bronchial arteries. The
artery on the right side supplies the right bronchus, bronchopulmonary lymph
nodes, pericardium and esophagus. The two bronchial arteries on the left side
, Sputhnick RR
supply blood to the components of the bronchial tree below the level of primary bronchi.
Esophageal branches: consist of four or five vessels that supply blood to the esophagus.
Mediastinal branches: consist of a few branches that supply blood to lymph nodes, nerves, vessels and areolar tissue
located in the posterior mediastinum.
Posterior intercostal arteries: consist of 9 pairs of arteries that run between the ribs and supply the intercostal spaces.
Subcostal arteries: consists of a pair of arteries that run inferior to the costal margin on each side (inferior to the
twelfth ribs) and supply the subcostal space.
Superior phrenic arteries: consist of a pair of arteries that supply the posterior aspect of the superior surface of the
diaphragm, anastomosing with the musculophrenic and pericardiacophrenic arteries.
21D | COMMON CAROTID ARTERY & INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
References: SRA’s Notes & Kenhub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D54Lkj2-Pk
Common Carotid Artery
Originates from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right and directly from the aortic arch on the left. It ascends along
with the trachea and bifurcates within the carotid triangle into the external and internal carotid artery.
- Carotid Body: oval structure posterior to the bifurcation, which receives information regarding the chemical
composition and relays it to the respiratory center.
- Carotid Sinus: dilation at the base of the internal carotid, which acts as a baroreceptor.
-
- Both the carotid body & sinus are innervated by the CN IX.
Internal Carotid Artery
The artery is divided into 4 parts, which are further divided into segments;
- Cervical part
Cervical segment
- Petrous part
Petrous segment
Lacerum segment
- Cavernous part
Cavernous segment
Arteries
42D | ASCENDING AORTA, AORTIC ARCH, & THORACIC AORTA (COURSE, SYNTOPY & BRANCHES)
References: Kenhub
Ascending Aorta
The ascending aorta begins at the aortic orifice, and is intrapericardial at first, found in the inferior middle
mediastinum. The coronary arteries are the first segment of the aorta, arising from the aortic sinus. The ascending
aorta runs superiorly for 5cm before becoming the aortic arch.
Syntopy
Anterior: pulmonary artery, right auricle and conus arteriosus
Posterior: left atrium, right pulmonary a. and right principle bronchus.
Right: Superior vena cava and right auricle.
, Sputhnick RR
Aortic Arch
A continuation of the ascending aorta, beginning at the sternal angle, posterior to the 2nd Sternocostal joint and is
located in the superior mediastinum.
Path
Ascends Posterosuperiorly to the left, peaking at T2 descending and ending at T4
Syntopy
Inferior: left pulmonary artery, left recurrent laryngeal nerve, and tracheal bifurcation.
Left Ant.: Phrenic & vagus nerve, intercostal vessels.
Right Post.: Thoracic duct, trachea and esophagus.
Branches:
Brachiocephalic trunk on the right and subclavian and common carotid arteries on the left.
Thoracic Aorta
Begins to the left of T4, but approaches the midline as it descends, gradually
moves behind the esophagus and leaves the thorax via the aortic hiatus at T12,
becoming the abdominal aorta.
Syntopy
Anterior: Pericardium, left atrium, left lung hilum & esophagus.
Posterior: Sympathetic chain & hemiazygous Vein.
Rigth: Pleura, lung & thoracic duct.
Left: left lung and pleura.
Branches:
Pericardial branches: consist of a few vessels that supply the posterior aspect of
the pericardium.
Bronchial arteries: they are usually one right and two left bronchial arteries. The
artery on the right side supplies the right bronchus, bronchopulmonary lymph
nodes, pericardium and esophagus. The two bronchial arteries on the left side
, Sputhnick RR
supply blood to the components of the bronchial tree below the level of primary bronchi.
Esophageal branches: consist of four or five vessels that supply blood to the esophagus.
Mediastinal branches: consist of a few branches that supply blood to lymph nodes, nerves, vessels and areolar tissue
located in the posterior mediastinum.
Posterior intercostal arteries: consist of 9 pairs of arteries that run between the ribs and supply the intercostal spaces.
Subcostal arteries: consists of a pair of arteries that run inferior to the costal margin on each side (inferior to the
twelfth ribs) and supply the subcostal space.
Superior phrenic arteries: consist of a pair of arteries that supply the posterior aspect of the superior surface of the
diaphragm, anastomosing with the musculophrenic and pericardiacophrenic arteries.
21D | COMMON CAROTID ARTERY & INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
References: SRA’s Notes & Kenhub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D54Lkj2-Pk
Common Carotid Artery
Originates from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right and directly from the aortic arch on the left. It ascends along
with the trachea and bifurcates within the carotid triangle into the external and internal carotid artery.
- Carotid Body: oval structure posterior to the bifurcation, which receives information regarding the chemical
composition and relays it to the respiratory center.
- Carotid Sinus: dilation at the base of the internal carotid, which acts as a baroreceptor.
-
- Both the carotid body & sinus are innervated by the CN IX.
Internal Carotid Artery
The artery is divided into 4 parts, which are further divided into segments;
- Cervical part
Cervical segment
- Petrous part
Petrous segment
Lacerum segment
- Cavernous part
Cavernous segment
