The standard anatomy of the aortic arch includes three branches arising from its superior border: the brachioce-phalic trunk first, followed by the left carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. This type of branching pattern is found in about 80% of individuals. The next most common branching pattern (11% of individuals) is one with only two branches: the right carotid artery followed by a common trunk, which incorporates the left common carotid artery and the brachiocephalic artery.1 In the third most common variation (8% of individuals), the aortic arch has four branches, the fourth one being the left vertebral artery. In about 1% of humans there are various other branching variations.
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