Brachiocephalic trunk

Looks like

A short, thick artery, the first branch off the aortic arch, rising to the right behind the breastbone.

What it does

Splits into the right carotid artery to the head and the right subclavian artery to the arm.

Keeping it well

Rarely narrowed on its own; a big difference in blood pressure between the two arms is a clue to narrowing here or on the other side and deserves investigation.

Its parts

• Brachiocephalic artery

Related conditions

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)