Aortic Arch

5-6 centimeters long and 30 millimeters wide, the aortic arch forms a characteristic curve, the convexity of which faces upwards and which places the aorta to the left of the trachea and esophagus.
The aortic arch is important from the anatomical point of view above all because the first branches of the aorta arise from it; in fact, the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery derive from the aortic arch.
The aortic arch can be the subject of various pathologies, including atherosclerosis, coarctation of the aorta, double aortic arch and Takayasu's arteritis.