Variations in branching pattern of aortic arch and embryological basis- A cadaveric study

Objective: The knowledge of variations in branching pattern of aortic arch is of paramount importance to the surgeons operating in the supra-sternal and retro-sternal region and the radiologists imaging the arch and its branches. The authors therefore conducted a study on the branching pattern of the aortic arches in fifty heart specimens. The different patterns of branching were photographed and correlated with their embryological basis. Material and methods: Fifty formalin fixed heart specimens of both sexes with age ranging between 40 to 70 years were used for the study. The specimens were dissected and the arch of aorta was exposed and their branching pattern was studied. Results: Normal anatomical branching pattern with three branches were observed in 38 aortic arches (76%) and a pattern showing 2 branches were noted in 8 aortic arches(16%) and 4(8%) aortic arches showed four branches. The detail of the branching pattern is discussed. Conclusion: These variations are usually asymptomatic but they may be cause for dyspnoea, dysphagia, coronary and circulatory problems.