How does the anatomy of the arteries that travel from the heart to the right arm differ from that of the arteries travelling from the heart to the left arm?
1 Answer
The right subclavian artery comes from brachiocephalic trunk. But in case of left side, the left subclavian comes directly from aortic arch.
Explanation:
Our arms are supplied by two Brachial arteries. They come from two Axillary arteries. Each of these two axillary artery comes from Subclavian arteries.
There are two subclavian arteries, one in each side (we can see from the picture, right & left subclavian arteries). From subclavian to brachial artery (or the branches of brachial artery: radial and ulnar) the anatomy of arteries are the same in each side.
But from the heart to the subclavian arteries there is a difference. From the left ventricle, comes the aorta and form the aortic arch over our heart. The aortic arch has three branches :
- Brachiocephalic trunk
- Left common carotid artery
- Left subclavian artery
Brachiocephalic trunk (artery) has two branches : right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. Here we can see the difference between the sides. The left subclavian comes from the aortic arch, but the right subclavian comes from brachiocephalic trunk.
