The aortic arches or pharyngeal arch arteries are formed sequentially with the pharyngeal arches.
| Aortic arch | Derivatives | Mnemonic |
| 1st | Maxillary artery (part) | 1st arch is maximal |
| 2nd | Stapedial artery Hyoid artery | Second = Stapedial |
| 3rd | Common carotid artery Proximal part of internal carotid artery | C = 3rd letter of alphabet |
| 4th | Left: Aortic arch Right: Subclavian artery (proximal part) | 4th arch = 4 limbs (systemic) Four rhymes with Aor-ta |
| 5th | None | Fifth arch = Fails |
| 6th | Pulmonary arteries (proximal part) Left only: Ductus arteriosus (ligamentum arteriosum) | 6 ∂ looks like lungs Pulmonary & Pulmonary-to-systemic shunt |
| 7th | interSegmental artery = Subclavian artery | Seven = Segmental = Subclavian |
Also remember the mnemonic: MSCARD
- 1st aortic arch: Maxillary artery
- 2nd aortic arch: Stapedial artery
- 3rd aortic arch: Carotid arteries (common and internal)
- 4th aortic arch:
- Arch of aorta
- Right subclavian artery
- 5th aortic arch: Degenerates