aortic arch

noun

, Embryology.

1. one member of a series of paired curved blood vessels that arise in the embryo from the ventral aorta, pass around the pharynx through the branchial arches, and join with the dorsal aorta to form the great vessels of the head and neck.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aortic arch¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Researchers also showed that vagal nerve cells in the heart’s aortic arch, which help regulate blood pressure, are not part of the pathway.

From Science Magazine

That in turn loops under the aortic arch, part of the large artery carrying blood from the heart, and then travels back up the neck to the vocal cords.

From Scientific American

Dr. Goldbogen credits the blue whale’s flexible aortic arch, which is able to hold about 90 percent of the animals’ blood and slowly release it even when the heart isn’t actively beating.

From New York Times

According to the paper, it is possible it operates like this because of an elastic-like part of the whale’s heart called an aortic arch which moves blood out to the body.

From Salon

But her aortic arch had to be reconstructed for transplant, making an already-tricky newborn transplant even more complicated.

From Washington Times