Morphometry of the aortic arch and its branches

The present study was conducted in Department of Anatomy and 64-slice CT center of Department of Radio diagnosis, King George’s Medical University, U.P. Lucknow. Morpho metric data of the aortic arch can be of help for conceiving, designing and optimizing all types of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions involving the aortic arch. We measured aortic arch diameters at following levels: Aorta just proximal to the innominate artery, Proximal transverse aortic arch, Distal transverse aortic arch and Aortic isthmus. Diameter of major branches of arch of aorta at their origin was also measured. All the parameters were corelaed with age and gender. Aortic diameters were 25.02 ± 5.76 mm proximal to the in nominate artery, 22.48 ± 5.14 mm at the proximal transverse arch, 20.60 ±4.81 mm at the distal transverse arch and 18.26 ± 4.49 mm at the isthmus. Mean diameter of brachiocephalic trunk in female subjects was 11.35+2.87 and in male subjects was 12.39+3.02.Left common carotid artery diameter in males had a mean value 7.2±1.3 mm as compared to females who had 7.0±1.7 mm diameter. Left subclavian artery diameter in females was 8.2+2.6 mm and in males was 10.5±3.1 mm We observed that among all these parameters only diameters of arch of aorta at different levels and left subclavian artery diameter were associated with age and gender. Diameters of arch of aorta were significantly higher in male subjects as compared to female subjects. Diameter of arch of aorta at various levels in age group 0-15 years was found to be significantly lower than that of other age groups. It gradually increases with age till 60yrs then it decreases. Significantly higher left subclavian artery diameter was found in male subjects as compared to female subjects.