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The Systemic Thoracic Vasculature

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Abstract

The thoracic vascularization includes systemic and pulmonary vessels. Systemic vessels are branches of the thoracic aorta and supply blood to extrapulmonary thoracic structures and supporting structures of the lungs. Any segment of the embryonic thoracic aortic arch can regress or persist abnormally in an extensive array of aortic arch anomalies, known as vascular ring anomalies. The bronchial arteries play important roles in various diseases affecting the airways and lung parenchyma, such as in case of pulmonary embolism. Although considered to be rare, thoracic vascular anomalies in dogs and cats are increasingly recognized with the diffusion of MDCT in veterinary practice.

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Correspondence to Giovanna Bertolini .

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Bertolini, G. (2017). The Systemic Thoracic Vasculature. In: Bertolini, G. (eds) Body MDCT in Small Animals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46904-1_11

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