Aortic arches
Encyclopedia
- This article focuses upon the multiple aortic arches present in the embryo. For the single structure present in the adult, see Aortic archAortic archThe arch of the aorta or the transverse aortic arch is the part of the aorta that 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; it is then directed backward on the left...
The aortic arches or pharyngeal arch arteries are a series of six paired embryological vascular structures which give rise to several major arteries. They are ventral to the dorsal aorta
Dorsal aorta
Each primitive aorta receives anteriorly a vein—the vitelline vein—from the yolk-sac, and is prolonged backward on the lateral aspect of the notochord under the name of the dorsal aorta....
.
Arches 1 and 2
The first and second arches disappear early, but the dorsal end of the second gives origin to the stapedial artery, a vessel which atrophies in humans but persists in some mammals. It passes through the ring of the stapes and divides into supraorbital, infraorbital, and mandibular branches which follow the three divisions of the trigeminal nerveTrigeminal nerve
The trigeminal nerve contains both sensory and motor fibres. It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the central nervous system...
. The infraorbital and mandibular arise from a common stem, the terminal part of which anastomoses with the external carotid.
On the obliteration of the stapedial artery this anastomosis enlarges and forms the internal maxillary artery, and the branches of the stapedial artery are now branches of this vessel.
The common stem of the infraorbital and mandibular branches passes between the two roots of the auriculotemporal nerve
Auriculotemporal nerve
The auriculotemporal nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve that runs with the superficial temporal artery and vein, and provides sensory innervation to various regions on the side of the head.-Origin:...
and becomes the middle meningeal artery
Middle meningeal artery
The middle meningeal artery is typically the third branch of the first part of the maxillary artery, one of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery...
; the original supraorbital branch of the stapedial is represented by the orbital twigs of the middle meningeal.
Arch 3
The third aortic arch constitutes the commencement of the internal carotid arteryInternal carotid artery
In human anatomy, the internal carotid arteries are two major arteries, one on each side of the head and neck. They arise from the common carotid arteries where these bifurcate into the internal and external carotid artery, and they supply the brain....
, and is therefore named the carotid arch.
Arch 4
The fourth right arch forms the right subclavian as far as the origin of its internal mammary branch; while the fourth left arch constitutes the arch of the aorta between the origin of the left carotid arteryCarotid artery
Carotid artery can refer to:* Common carotid artery* External carotid artery* Internal carotid artery...
and the termination of the ductus arteriosus
Ductus arteriosus
In the developing fetus, the ductus arteriosus , also called the ductus Botalli, is a shunt connecting the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. It allows most of the blood from the right ventricle to bypass the fetus's fluid-filled lungs. Upon closure at birth, it becomes the ligamentum arteriosum...
.
Arch 6
The proximal part of the sixth right arch persists as the proximal part of the right pulmonary arteryPulmonary artery
The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood....
while the distal section degenerates; The sixth left arch gives off the left pulmonary artery
Pulmonary artery
The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood....
and forms the ductus arteriosus
Ductus arteriosus
In the developing fetus, the ductus arteriosus , also called the ductus Botalli, is a shunt connecting the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. It allows most of the blood from the right ventricle to bypass the fetus's fluid-filled lungs. Upon closure at birth, it becomes the ligamentum arteriosum...
; this duct remains pervious during the whole of fetal life, but then closes within the first few days after birth due to increased O2 concentration. Oxygen concentration causes the production of bradykinin which causes the ductus to constrict occluding all flow. Within 1-3 months, the ductus is obliterated and becomes the ligamentum arteriosus.
His
Wilhelm His, Jr.
Wilhelm His, Jr. was a Swiss-born cardiologist and anatomist.He was born on December 29, 1863 to Wilhelm His, Sr.. In 1893, he discovered the bundle of His, which is a specialized tissue in the heart that transmits the electrical impulses and helps synchronize contraction of the cardiac muscles...
showed that in the early embryo
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
the right and left arches each gives a branch to the lungs, but that later both pulmonary arteries take origin from the left arch.
Great arteries anomalies
Most defects of the grest arteries arise as a result of persistence of aortic arches that normally should regress or regression of arches that normally shouldn't.- Aberrant subclavian arteryAberrant subclavian arteryAberrant subclavian artery, or aberrant subclavian artery syndrome refers to a rare anatomical variant of the origin of the right or left subclavian artery...
; with regression of the right aortic arch 4 and the right dorsal aorta, the right subclavian arterySubclavian arteryIn human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are two major arteries of the upper thorax , below the clavicle . They receive blood from the top of the aorta...
has an abnormal origin on the left side, just below the left subclavian artery. To supply blood to the right arm, this forces the right subclavian artery to cross the midline behind the tracheaTracheaTrachea may refer to:* Vertebrate trachea, or windpipe, in terrestrial vertebrates, such as birds and mammals* Invertebrate trachea, in terrestrial invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans* Vessel elements in plants...
and esophagusEsophagusThe esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
, which may constrict these organs, although usually with no clinical symptoms. - A double aortic archDouble aortic archDouble aortic arch is a relatively rare congenital cardiovascular malformation. DAA is an of the aortic arch in which two aortic arches form a complete vascular ring that can compress the trachea and/or esophagus. Most commonly there is a larger right arch behind and a smaller left aortic...
; occurs with the development of an abnormal right aortic arch in addition to the left aortic arch, forming a vascular ring around the trachea and esophagus, which usually causes dificutly breathing and swallowing. Occasionally, the entire right dorsal aorta abnormally persists and the left dorsal aorta regresses in which case the right aorta will have to arch across from the esophagus causing difficulty breathing or swallowing. - Patent ductus arteriosusPatent ductus arteriosusPatent ductus arteriosus is a congenital disorder in the heart wherein a neonate's ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth. Early symptoms are uncommon, but in the first year of life include increased work of breathing and poor weight gain...
- Coarctation of the aorta
External links
- Diagram at University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
