Tags: Anatomical Structure, Artery.
The arch of the aorta or the transverse aortic arch (English pronunciation: /eɪˈɔrtɪk/) is the part of the aorta that begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side and runs at first upward backward and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea and finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra at the lower border of which it becomes continuous with the descending aorta.
