Arch of aorta: anatomy, location and function

What it is

The aortic arch is the curved part of the aorta between the ascending and descending aorta, giving the great vessels to the head and arms.

Location

It begins behind the right second sternocostal joint, arches up, back and to the left over the root of the left lung, and ends at the left side of T4 as the descending aorta. Its branches are the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid and the left subclavian artery.

Function

It distributes blood to the head, neck and upper limbs.

Body system

Cardiovascular · single, midline structure

FMA ID

FMA3768 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• The ligamentum arteriosum connects it to the pulmonary trunk.
• The aortic isthmus lies just beyond the left subclavian artery.
• Baroreceptors in its wall, supplied by the vagus nerve, help regulate blood pressure.

Clinical relevance

Coarctation of the aorta typically occurs near the ligamentum arteriosum.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Bronchial artery · cardiovascular
• Superior vena cava · cardiovascular
• Brachiocephalic artery · cardiovascular
• Accessory hemiazygos vein · cardiovascular
• Brachiocephalic vein · cardiovascular
• Intervertebral disk of third thoracic vertebra · skeletal
• First posterior intercostal artery · cardiovascular
• Intervertebral disk of second thoracic vertebra · skeletal
• Common carotid artery · cardiovascular
• Trachea · respiratory