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Major Arteries of the Body: Aorta Branches and Regional Supply Routes

Capítulo 8

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

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How to Study Major Arteries: “Origin → Course → Branches → Territory”

To learn arterial anatomy efficiently, use the same checklist for every vessel:

Origin: where it arises (often from the aorta or a named parent artery).
Course: the general path and key landmarks it travels alongside or through.
Key branches: major named offshoots that help you navigate regions.
Primary territories supplied: the main organs, walls, or limb segments perfused.

In this chapter, arteries are organized by region, starting at the aortic arch, then abdominal aorta branches, then pelvis/lower limb, and finally the upper limb pathway.

Aortic Arch Branches (Head/Neck and Upper Limb Gateways)

Brachiocephalic Trunk

Origin: First branch of the aortic arch (right-sided supply gateway).

Course: Ascends to the right and divides behind/near the right sternoclavicular region.

Key branches:

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Right common carotid artery
Right subclavian artery

Primary territories supplied: Indirectly supplies the right head/neck (via right common carotid) and right upper limb (via right subclavian), plus parts of thoracic wall/neck via subclavian branches.

Left Common Carotid Artery

Origin: Second branch of the aortic arch.

Course: Ascends in the neck within the carotid sheath toward the angle of the jaw.

Key branches: Typically bifurcates into:

Internal carotid artery (to brain and orbit)
External carotid artery (to face, scalp, and superficial neck structures)

Primary territories supplied: Left head and neck, with internal carotid emphasizing intracranial/orbital supply and external carotid emphasizing face/scalp.

Left Subclavian Artery

Origin: Third branch of the aortic arch.

Course: Arches laterally toward the left upper limb, passing under/near the clavicle and over the first rib, then continues as the axillary artery.

Key branches (high-yield):

Vertebral artery (ascends to supply posterior brain via vertebrobasilar system)
Internal thoracic artery (anterior chest wall; important in bypass grafting)
Thyrocervical trunk (neck/shoulder region branches)
Costocervical trunk (deep neck and upper intercostals)

Primary territories supplied: Left upper limb (main conduit), plus neck, upper thoracic wall, and contributions to posterior cerebral circulation via vertebral artery.

Comparison Table: Common Carotid vs Subclavian (Same-Level “Gateways”)

Feature	Common Carotid	Subclavian
Main role	Primary conduit to head/neck	Primary conduit to upper limb; also supplies neck/thorax
Typical endpoint	Bifurcates into internal/external carotid	Continues as axillary artery after first rib
Major “signature” branch	Internal carotid (brain/orbit)	Vertebral (posterior brain), internal thoracic (chest wall)
Key territory emphasis	Brain, face/scalp, neck	Upper limb, chest wall, deep neck; posterior brain contribution
Clinical navigation idea	Think “bifurcation to internal/external”	Think “becomes axillary → brachial → forearm arteries”

Major Abdominal Aorta Branches (Digestive, Renal, and Hindgut Supply)

In the abdomen, a practical way to organize branches is by what they feed: foregut, midgut, kidneys, and hindgut. The following are the core “must-know” trunks.

Celiac Trunk (Foregut Supply)

Origin: Anterior branch from the proximal abdominal aorta, just below the diaphragm.

Course: Short trunk that quickly divides.

Key branches (classic trifurcation):

Left gastric artery
Splenic artery
Common hepatic artery

Primary territories supplied: Foregut-derived organs: stomach, liver, spleen, proximal duodenum, and associated pancreas regions (via branches associated with splenic/common hepatic pathways).

Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) (Midgut Supply)

Origin: Anterior branch from abdominal aorta inferior to the celiac trunk.

Course: Runs anteriorly and inferiorly into the mesentery toward the small intestine and right colon.

Key branches (high-yield groups):

Intestinal branches (to jejunum and ileum)
Ileocolic artery
Right colic artery
Middle colic artery

Primary territories supplied: Midgut structures: distal duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum/appendix, ascending colon, and proximal transverse colon.

Renal Arteries (Kidney Supply)

Origin: Lateral branches from the abdominal aorta (one to each kidney).

Course: Travel laterally to the renal hilum; the right renal artery often has a longer course due to the aorta’s left-sided position.

Key branches: Segmental branches within/near the kidney (clinically important because they behave like end arteries).

Primary territories supplied: Kidneys (and proximal ureter via related branches).

Inferior Mesenteric Artery (IMA) (Hindgut Supply)

Origin: Anterior branch from the distal abdominal aorta.

Course: Descends toward the left lower abdomen/pelvis to reach left colon and rectosigmoid region.

Key branches:

Left colic artery
Sigmoid arteries
Superior rectal artery

Primary territories supplied: Hindgut structures: distal transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and upper rectum.

Pelvic and Lower Limb Supply (Common Iliac → Internal/External Iliac → Femoral → Popliteal → Tibial)

Common Iliac Arteries

Origin: Terminal bifurcation of the abdominal aorta into right and left common iliac arteries.

Course: Each common iliac runs inferolaterally toward the pelvis and divides.

Key branches:

Internal iliac artery (pelvis)
External iliac artery (lower limb pathway)

Primary territories supplied: Serve as the main distribution split between pelvic organs/walls and lower limb.

Internal Iliac Artery (Pelvic Supply)

Origin: Branch of the common iliac.

Course: Descends into the pelvis, dividing into multiple visceral and parietal branches.

Key branches (conceptual grouping):

Visceral branches to pelvic organs (e.g., bladder, reproductive organs, rectum)
Parietal branches to pelvic walls and gluteal region

Primary territories supplied: Pelvic organs, pelvic walls, and contributions to gluteal/perineal regions.

External Iliac Artery (Gateway to the Lower Limb)

Origin: Branch of the common iliac.

Course: Runs along the pelvic brim and passes under the inguinal ligament to become the femoral artery.

Key branches: Important branches to anterior abdominal wall (commonly emphasized in anatomy), then continuation as femoral.

Primary territories supplied: Primarily a conduit to the lower limb; also supplies portions of the lower anterior abdominal wall.

Femoral Artery

Origin: Continuation of the external iliac artery distal to the inguinal ligament.

Course: Travels through the femoral triangle and down the anterior/medial thigh; passes through the adductor hiatus to become the popliteal artery.

Key branches:

Deep artery of the thigh (profunda femoris) (major supplier of thigh musculature)
Superficial branches to skin and superficial tissues of the groin/thigh

Primary territories supplied: Anterior thigh and, via profunda femoris, much of the thigh musculature; provides the main inflow to the leg and foot through its continuation.

Popliteal Artery

Origin: Continuation of the femoral artery after the adductor hiatus.

Course: Runs through the popliteal fossa behind the knee.

Key branches: Genicular branches around the knee (collateral circulation), then divides into tibial arteries.

Primary territories supplied: Knee region and acts as the main conduit to the leg.

Anterior Tibial Artery

Origin: Terminal branch of the popliteal artery.

Course: Passes to the anterior compartment of the leg and continues toward the dorsum of the foot.

Key branches: Muscular branches to anterior compartment; continuation toward dorsum of foot (often taught as continuing into a major dorsal foot artery).

Primary territories supplied: Anterior leg (dorsiflexor compartment) and dorsal foot region.

Posterior Tibial Artery

Origin: Terminal branch of the popliteal artery.

Course: Runs in the posterior compartment of the leg toward the medial ankle; gives off the fibular (peroneal) artery.

Key branches:

Fibular (peroneal) artery (lateral compartment and adjacent structures)
Terminal branches to plantar foot (commonly described as medial and lateral plantar arteries)

Primary territories supplied: Posterior leg (plantarflexor compartment), lateral leg via fibular artery, and plantar foot.

Upper Limb Pathway (Subclavian → Axillary → Brachial → Radial/Ulnar)

Axillary Artery

Origin: Continuation of the subclavian artery after it crosses the first rib.

Course: Traverses the axilla (armpit region) toward the proximal arm.

Key branches: Multiple branches to shoulder and thoracic wall (often organized by relationship to pectoralis minor in detailed anatomy).

Primary territories supplied: Shoulder region, axilla, and serves as the main conduit to the arm.

Brachial Artery

Origin: Continuation of the axillary artery distal to the teres major region.

Course: Runs along the medial aspect of the arm toward the cubital fossa (front of elbow), where it divides.

Key branches:

Deep artery of the arm (profunda brachii) (major supply to posterior arm; accompanies radial nerve regionally)
Collateral branches around the elbow
Terminal branches: radial and ulnar arteries

Primary territories supplied: Arm (anterior and posterior compartments via branches) and conduit to forearm/hand.

Radial Artery

Origin: Terminal branch of the brachial artery (at/near cubital fossa).

Course: Runs along the lateral (thumb-side) forearm toward the wrist and hand.

Key branches: Branches to lateral forearm and hand; contributes importantly to palmar circulation.

Primary territories supplied: Lateral forearm and significant portions of hand perfusion.

Ulnar Artery

Origin: Terminal branch of the brachial artery.

Course: Runs along the medial (pinky-side) forearm toward the wrist and hand.

Key branches: Branches to medial forearm; major contributor to palmar circulation.

Primary territories supplied: Medial forearm and significant portions of hand perfusion.

Comparison Table: Femoral vs Brachial (Main Limb Conduits)

Feature	Femoral Artery	Brachial Artery
Parent vessel	External iliac artery	Axillary artery
Region	Thigh (lower limb inflow)	Arm (upper limb inflow)
Major deep branch	Deep artery of the thigh (profunda femoris)	Deep artery of the arm (profunda brachii)
Key transition landmark	Becomes popliteal after adductor hiatus	Divides at/near cubital fossa
Main downstream pathway	Popliteal → anterior/posterior tibial → foot	Radial/ulnar → hand
Territory emphasis	Thigh muscles + conduit to leg/foot	Arm muscles + conduit to forearm/hand

Map-Tracing Practice: From Target Back to the Aorta

Practice tracing by starting at the target tissue and moving upstream to the aorta. Use this step-by-step method:

Name the local artery closest to the target (e.g., radial artery for lateral forearm/hand).
Move to the parent artery (e.g., radial comes from brachial).
Keep moving proximally through the limb gateway (brachial → axillary → subclavian).
Identify the aortic connection (left subclavian from aortic arch; right subclavian via brachiocephalic trunk).
State the aortic segment (aortic arch vs abdominal aorta vs terminal aorta).

Practice Set A: Upper Limb Targets

Target: Palm of the hand (general). Trace back: palmar circulation → ulnar and/or radial → brachial → axillary → subclavian → aortic arch.
Target: Lateral forearm. Trace back: radial → brachial → axillary → subclavian → aortic arch.
Target: Medial forearm. Trace back: ulnar → brachial → axillary → subclavian → aortic arch.

Practice Set B: Abdominal Organ Targets

Target: Stomach. Trace back: left gastric (or other gastric branches) → celiac trunk → abdominal aorta.
Target: Jejunum. Trace back: intestinal branches → superior mesenteric artery → abdominal aorta.
Target: Descending colon. Trace back: left colic → inferior mesenteric artery → abdominal aorta.
Target: Kidney. Trace back: renal artery → abdominal aorta.

Practice Set C: Pelvis and Lower Limb Targets

Target: Pelvic organ (general). Trace back: pelvic visceral branch → internal iliac → common iliac → abdominal aorta.
Target: Anterior thigh. Trace back: femoral (and/or profunda femoris for deep thigh) → external iliac → common iliac → abdominal aorta.
Target: Knee region. Trace back: genicular branches → popliteal → femoral → external iliac → common iliac → abdominal aorta.
Target: Dorsum of foot. Trace back: anterior tibial pathway → popliteal → femoral → external iliac → common iliac → abdominal aorta.
Target: Sole of foot. Trace back: posterior tibial → popliteal → femoral → external iliac → common iliac → abdominal aorta.

Self-Check Drill (Fill-in Template)

Use this template repeatedly until the route feels automatic:

Target: ____________  Local artery: ____________  Parent: ____________  Gateway: ____________  Aorta segment: ____________

Now answer the exercise about the content:

When tracing arterial supply from the dorsum of the foot back toward the aorta, which sequence best matches the correct proximal pathway?

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The dorsum of the foot follows the anterior tibial pathway. Proximally it connects to the popliteal artery, then femoral, then external iliac, common iliac, and finally the abdominal aorta.