The brachiocephalic trunc is the first large arterial branch of the aorta. Historically, it also has been called "Anonymous artery", or "Unnamed artery".
The brachiocephalic trunc just occurs on the right side of the body in most humans. It comes from the aortic arch and is the common vascular trunc of the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery. On the left side, the vessels usually arise separately from the aortic arch. In some cases, also the left common carotid artery can arise from the brachiocephalic trunc as a variation.
The brachiocephalic trunc (after Vesalius - Truncus ascendens aortae („ascending trunc from the aorta“)) describes a common trunc of vessels of the subclavian artery and the common carotid artery of the aortic arch. Normally, this branch just occurs on the right side. On the left, the subclavian artery and the common carotid artery arise separately from the aortic arch. The lusory artery (Arteria lusoria) is a pathological variation.
