Walsh & Hoyt: Origin of the Cerebral Arterial Blood Supply from the Aortic Arch

The cerebral arterial blood supply is derived from the aortic arch through three major vessels: the innominate (brachiocephalic) artery, the left common carotid artery (CCA), and the left subclavian artery. The innominate artery arises as the largest trunk of the aortic arch and branches into the right CCA and the right subclavian artery. The right CCA ascends to the upper level of the thyroid cartilage, where it bifurcates into the right internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA). The left CCA arises from the apex of the aortic arch and divides into the left ICA and ECA.