Aortic Arch and Origin of the Cranial Cerebral Arteries

Abstract

The study of the cranial cerebral vessels begins at the aortic arch. Short considerations about their embryo­genesis are necessary.

In the embryogenesis, the brachiocephalic vessels develop from several primitive vascular arches. The progressive involution of these vascular structures leads to the formation of the final normal aortic arch, which is characterized by the persistence of the left fourth primitive arch, from which arise (right to left) the brachiocephalic trunk (innominate artery), the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery. From the brachiocephalic trunk arise the right common carotid artery and the subclavian artery, giving off the right vertebral artery.