Brachiocephalic trunk
Branch · 1st arch branch Right SCJ
First and largest arch branch, arising to the right of the midline behind the manubrium and ascending to divide behind the right sternoclavicular joint into the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. There is no left-sided equivalent.
Traced from the start
- Arch of the aorta
- Brachiocephalic trunk
Detail
- Level
- Arch to the right sternoclavicular joint
- Branches
- Right common carotid, right subclavian (occasionally a thyroid ima artery)
- Relations
- Left brachiocephalic vein crosses in front of it; trachea behind and to its left
When it goes wrong
Low tracheostomy, or erosion by a long-term tracheostomy tube cuff
Tracheo-innominate fistula: torrential bleeding from the tracheostomy as the trunk crosses the trachea in the suprasternal region
Thyroid ima artery variant (up to about 10%)
Unexpected bleeding in front of the trachea during tracheostomy or thyroidectomy
Practise this structure
1 question in the bank tagged Arterial Supply.