For the observation of the origin, number and ordination of the arteries destined to the thoracic part of the thymus, thirty foetus of "Rezende" linage swine were dissected, after injection of Neoprene latex "450" throgh the toracic descendent aorta artery and fixation in 10 percent formaldehyde. The left side is suplied by direct branches from the arteries: left intern toracic (96,66%), left superficial cervical (40,00%), right intern toracic (26,66%), braquiocefalic trunk (20,00%), left subclavic (10,00%), left common carotid (10,00%), left vertebral (6,66%), right superficial cervical (6,66%), bicarotid trunk (6,66%), right extern toracic (3,33%) and left axilar (3,33%) and indirect branches from the arteries: left intern toracic (40,00%), left superficial cervical (23,33%) and left subclavic (3,33%). The right side is suplied by direct branches from the arteries: right intern toracic (63,33%), right superficial cervical (13,33%), right common carotid (6,66%), right extern toracic (3,33%) and right subclavic (3,33%) and indirect branches from the arteries: right intern toracic (20,00%), right superficial cervical (10,00%), right extern toracic (3,33%) and right subclavic (3,33%). The thymus' tissue of the right side was present in 43.33% of the cases, absent in 30% and reduced in 26.66% with 1 to 7 deep branches. The thymus' tissue of the left side was found in 100% of the dissections with 2 to9 deep branches.
swine; arteries; thymus
