RESUMO
Objectives: To determine the percentage and type of aortic arch variations in Indian subjects and their clinical surgical importance and embryological basis. Patients and methods: In our investigation, branching patterns of the aortic arch were studied in 62 formalinfixed cadavers of booth sexes of Indian origin, aged 45-79. The dissections were carried out in formalin preserved after exposing the thoracic and cervical region during routine dissection of undergraduate students of Indiam origin in Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. Results: The usual three-branched aortic arch was found in 56 cadavers (91,4 percent); variations were found in six cadavers (9,6 percent); 4,8 percent presented common origin of the carotid arteries; 1,6 percent had biinnominate sequence, and the same specimen had left coronary artery arising from arch of aorta directly; 1,6 percent presented right subclavian artery arising directy from the aorta; 1,6 percent had left vertebral artery a branch of aortic arch...