Aortic Branches
Aorta
Subdivisions:
- Ascending
- Coronary arteries supply myocardium
- Arch
- Brachiocephalic trunk (bifurcates to form right common carotid and subclavian arteries)
- Left common carotid artery
- Left subclavian artery.
- These vessels deliver blood to the head, neck, upper extremities, and upper back.
- Descending Thoracic (superior to diaphragm)
- Posterior intercostal arteries
- Descending Abdominal (inferior to diaphragm)
- Celiac trunk, which typically has three main branches
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Right and left renal arteries
- Right and left gonadal arteries
- Inferior mesenteric artery.
These vessels deliver blood to the tissues of the trunk (specifically, to organs of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems).
Bifurcates to form common iliac arteries (at approximately L4-L5)
- Common iliac arteries split to form external and internal iliac arteries, which supply the pelvis and lower extremities.