Brachiocephalic trunk
Truncus brachiocephalicus
Definition
The brachiocephalic trunk is an artery arising from the aortic arch that supplies arterial blood to the head, neck, and thoracic limbs.
It is the first and main branch of the aortic arch in domestic mammals. Its arrangement varies among species, but it generally gives rise to the right and left common carotid arteries as well as the right subclavian artery. In some species, such as domestic carnivores, the left subclavian artery arises separately from the aortic arch, whereas in ruminants and horses, it may also originate from the brachiocephalic trunk.
References
Dyce KM, Sack WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2017.
König HE, Liebich HG. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 6th ed. Schattauer; 2020.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2013.
