“Bovine” Aortic Arch
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* A.D. Elster

I have reviewed with interest the recent paper by Layton et al1 and correspondence by Vitek2 concerning the human anatomic variation commonly but incorrectly referred to as the “bovine” aortic arch.

As a point of comparative anatomy, it should be noted that several common mammals have normal aortic branching patterns identical with the human “bovine” variant. Specifically, dogs, cats, and most rabbit species have 2 major branches from the aortic arch, the first being an innominate or brachiocephalic artery giving origin sequentially to the left common carotid and right common carotid arteries and the second being a left subclavian artery.3

I suggest, therefore, that if tempted to apply an animal name to the human arch variant described above, using a term like “canine,” “feline,” or “lapine” aortic arch would be more appropriate.

## References

1.  Layton KF, Kallmes DF, Cloft HJ, et al. **Bovine aortic arch araiant in humans: clarification of a common misnomer.** AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2006;27:1541–42
    
    [Abstract/FREE Full Text](http://www.ajnr.org/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiYWpuciI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czo5OiIyNy83LzE1NDEiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoxODoiL2FqbnIvMjkvMy9lMi5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30=) 

2.  Vitek JJ. **Bovine aortic arch.** AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2007;2487:1205
    
    

3.  Dome SH, Goody PC, Strickland NC, et al. Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy: Volume 3, The Dog and Cat. St Louis: Mosby-Year Book;1996
    
    

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