Arch anomalies are defects relating to the aorta, affecting the oxygenated blood leaving the left ventricle.
Back to heart libraryA child with a coarctation of the aortic arch after the brachiocephalic artery. The narrowing (coarctation) of the aorta makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body. This can lead to complications including not getting enough blood to the body’s organs. Babies can have weak pulses in their legs or cold legs, trouble feeding and gaining weight, rapid breathing, pale skin, and sweating.
explore modelInterrupted Aortic Arch (IAA) is a rare congenital heart defect where the aorta (the body’s main artery) is completely disconnected, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching beyond the gap(the lower body). Before and shortly after birth, a temporary vessel called the ductus arteriosus bridges this gap. When the ductus arteriosus begins to close after birth, it leads to severe, life-threatening symptoms because the lower body and organs are deprived of oxygen-rich blood. Many babies with IAA also have a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), a hole between the heart’s lower chambers.
explore modelThis model demonstrates the anatomy of a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery leading to a vascular ring, which can cause airway and esophageal compression. In this model, the right sided heart structures are depicted in blue, the left sided heart structures in red, the airway in white, and the esophagus in yellow.
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