Surgical Anatomy of the Great Arteries of the Thorax

The term "great arteries" refers to the major intrathoracic arterial structures and includes the aorta and its major branches, the innominate, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries; and the pulmonary artery trunk with its two branches. The gross surgical anatomy of these arteries, their main embryologic malformations, and the best possible surgical approaches to them are reviewed.