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Aortic arch
 
 
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For the embryological structure, see Aortic arches
Aortic arches

The aortic arches are a series of six paired embryological vascular structures which give rise to several major arteries. They are ventral to the dorsal aorta....
.


The arch of the aorta (Transverse Aorta) begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side, and runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea
Vertebrate trachea

The traceartes, or windpipe, is a tube that has an inner diameter of about 20-25 mm and a length of about 10-16 cm in humans. It commences at the larynx and bifurcates into the primary bronchus in mammals, and from the pharynx to the syrinx in birds, allowing the passage of air to the lungs....
; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea
Vertebrate trachea

The traceartes, or windpipe, is a tube that has an inner diameter of about 20-25 mm and a length of about 10-16 cm in humans. It commences at the larynx and bifurcates into the primary bronchus in mammals, and from the pharynx to the syrinx in birds, allowing the passage of air to the lungs....
 and finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra, at the lower border of which it becomes continuous with the descending aorta
Descending aorta

The descending aorta is part of the Aorta, the largest artery in the body. The descending aorta is the part of the aorta beginning at the Aortic arch that runs down through the Chest and Abdomen....
.

It thus forms two curvatures: one with its convexity upward, the other with its convexity forward and to the left.






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For the embryological structure, see Aortic arches
Aortic arches

The aortic arches are a series of six paired embryological vascular structures which give rise to several major arteries. They are ventral to the dorsal aorta....
.


The arch of the aorta (Transverse Aorta) begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side, and runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea
Vertebrate trachea

The traceartes, or windpipe, is a tube that has an inner diameter of about 20-25 mm and a length of about 10-16 cm in humans. It commences at the larynx and bifurcates into the primary bronchus in mammals, and from the pharynx to the syrinx in birds, allowing the passage of air to the lungs....
; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea
Vertebrate trachea

The traceartes, or windpipe, is a tube that has an inner diameter of about 20-25 mm and a length of about 10-16 cm in humans. It commences at the larynx and bifurcates into the primary bronchus in mammals, and from the pharynx to the syrinx in birds, allowing the passage of air to the lungs....
 and finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra, at the lower border of which it becomes continuous with the descending aorta
Descending aorta

The descending aorta is part of the Aorta, the largest artery in the body. The descending aorta is the part of the aorta beginning at the Aortic arch that runs down through the Chest and Abdomen....
.

It thus forms two curvatures: one with its convexity upward, the other with its convexity forward and to the left. Its upper border is usually about 2.5 cm. below the superior border to the manubrium sterni.

Relations

The Arch of Aorta (Aortic Arch) is covered anteriorly by the pleura and anterior margins of the lungs, and by the remains of the thymus
Thymus

In human anatomy, the thymus is an organ located in the upper anterior portion of the Thoracic cavity just behind the sternum. The main function of the thymus is to provide an area for T lymphocyte maturation....
.

As the vessel runs backward its left side is in contact with the left lung and pleura.

Passing downward to the breast on the left side of this part of the arch are four nerves; in order from before backward these are, the left phrenic
Phrenic

#redirect Phrenic nervePhrenic may also mean the following:*Phrenic , UK based underground dance music producers...
, the lower of the superior cardiac branches of the left vagus, the superior cardiac branch of the left sympathetic
Sympathetic

The word sympathetic means different things in different contexts.* In neurology and neuroscience, the sympathetic nervous system is a part of the autonomic nervous system....
, and the trunk of the left vagus.

As the left vagus nerve
Vagus nerve

The vagus nerve is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves, and is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem and extends, through the jugular foramen, down below the head , to the neck, chest and abdomen, where it contributes to the innervation of the viscera....
 crosses the arch, it gives off its recurrent branch
Recurrent laryngeal nerve

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve that supplies motor function and sensation to the larynx . It travels within the endoneurial sheath....
, which hooks around below the vessel and then passes upward on its right side.

The highest left intercostal vein runs obliquely upward and forward on the left side of the arch, between the phrenic and vagus nerves.

On the right are the deep part of the cardiac plexus
Cardiac plexus

The cardiac plexus is a plexus of nerves situated at the base of the heart that innervate the heart....
, the left recurrent nerve
Recurrent laryngeal nerve

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve that supplies motor function and sensation to the larynx . It travels within the endoneurial sheath....
, the esophagus
Esophagus

The esophagus or oesophagus , sometimes known as the gullet, is an Organ in vertebrates which consists of a Muscle tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach....
, and the thoracic duct
Thoracic duct

In human anatomy, the thoracic duct is an important part of the lymphatic system—it is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body. It is also known under various other names including the alimentary duct, chyliferous duct, duct of Pecquet, the left lymphatic duct and Van Hoorne's canal....
; the trachea
Trachea

Trachea is a common term for 'Wind Pipe' an airway through which respiratory air passes in organisms. In vertebrates, it is held open by up to 20 C-shaped rings of cartilage....
 lies behind and to the right of the vessel.

Above are the innominate, left common carotid
Common carotid artery

In human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an artery that supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the external carotid artery and internal carotid artery....
, and left subclavian
Subclavian artery

In human anatomy, the subclavian artery is a major artery of the upper thorax that mainly supplies blood to the head and arms. It is located below the collar bone, hence the name....
 arteries, which arise from the convexity of the arch and are crossed close to their origins by the left innominate vein.

Below are the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery, the left bronchus, the ligamentum arteriosum
Ligamentum arteriosum

The ligamentum arteriosum is a small ligament attached to the superior surface of the pulmonary trunk and the inferior surface of the aortic arch....
, the superficial part of the cardiac plexus, and the left recurrent nerve.

The ligamentum arteriosum
Ligamentum arteriosum

The ligamentum arteriosum is a small ligament attached to the superior surface of the pulmonary trunk and the inferior surface of the aortic arch....
 connects the commencement of the left pulmonary artery to the aortic arch.