The branches of the aortic arch (Arcus aortae) of buffaoes were investigated in this study. Therefore, dissections were procedeed in previously injected arteries (using coloured Neoprene latex 650â - Du Pont do Brasil S.A.) of 20 buffalo foetuses, theses males and females between four and eight months of gestation . In 80% of the cases it was observed that the brachiocephalic trunk (Truncus brachiocephalicus) gives off the left subclavian artery, (Arteria subclavia) the right and left common carotid arteries (Arteria carotis communis) - being absent the bicarotid trunk (Truncus bicaroticus)- and the right subclavian artery. The right and left subclavian arteries originate in commom the costocervical trunk (Truncus costocervicalis), the cervical superficial artery (Arteria cervicalis superficialis), axillary artery (Arteria axillaris) and internal thoracic artery (Arteria thoracica interna). In 20% of the cases the brachiocephalic trunk originates the left subclavian artery in common with the left costocervical trunk, and after it does originate the left common carotid artery. It ends spliting up in three vessels: the right commom carotid artery, the right subclavian artery and the right costocervical trunk, remembering that the right and left subclavian arteries have their origin commonly to the superficial cervical artery, the axillary artery and the internal thoracic artery, with the presence of the bicarotid trunk, which is characteristic of bovines.
buffaloes; aorta; aortic arch; brachiocephalic trunk
