The brachiocephalic artery, also known as the innominate artery, is the first major branch arising from the aortic arch. It is a short but wide vessel that travels upward and to the right before splitting into the right common carotid artery, which supplies the right side of the head and neck, and the right subclavian artery, which supplies the right arm. In vascular ultrasound, the brachiocephalic artery can sometimes be evaluated from a suprasternal or high parasternal approach, particularly when investigating discrepancies in arm blood pressures or evaluating the origins of the great vessels. In fetal echocardiography, identifying the branching pattern of the aortic arch is important for detecting congenital vascular anomalies.
Sonography Term