Skip to content
Epomedicine
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

  • Medical Students
  • Bedside Clinics
  • Case Reports
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Blog
  • Surgical Skills
  • Medical Mnemonics
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Aortic arch derivatives : Mnemonic

Epomedicine, May 28, 2023May 28, 2023

Last updated on May 28, 2023

The aortic arches or pharyngeal arch arteries are formed sequentially with the pharyngeal arches.

Aortic archDerivativesMnemonic
1stMaxillary artery (part)1st arch is maximal
2ndStapedial artery
Hyoid artery
Second = Stapedial
3rdCommon carotid artery
Proximal part of internal carotid artery
C = 3rd letter of alphabet
4thLeft: Aortic arch
Right: Subclavian artery (proximal part)
4th arch = 4 limbs (systemic)
Four rhymes with Aor-ta
5thNoneFifth arch = Fails
6thPulmonary arteries (proximal part)
Left only: Ductus arteriosus (ligamentum arteriosum)
6 ∂ looks like lungs
Pulmonary & Pulmonary-to-systemic shunt
7thinterSegmental artery = Subclavian arterySeven = Segmental = Subclavian
aortic arch derivatives
Henry Vandyke Carter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Also remember the mnemonic: MSCARD

  1. 1st aortic arch: Maxillary artery
  2. 2nd aortic arch: Stapedial artery
  3. 3rd aortic arch: Carotid arteries (common and internal)
  4. 4th aortic arch:
    • Arch of aorta
    • Right subclavian artery
  5. 5th aortic arch: Degenerates
1 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS AnatomyCardiovascular systemEmbryology

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Epomedicine. Aortic arch derivatives : Mnemonic [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2023 May 28 [cited 2025 Jun 16]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/aortic-arch-derivatives-mnemonic/.

Pre-clinical (Basic Sciences)

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Community medicine (PSM)

Embryology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Clinical Sciences

Anesthesia

Dermatology

Emergency medicine

Forensic

Internal medicine

Gynecology & Obstetrics

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

RSS Ask Epomedicine

  • What to study for Clinical examination in Orthopedics?
  • What is the mechanism of AVNRT?

Epomedicine weekly

  • About Epomedicine
  • Contact Us
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit Article
  • Editorial Board
  • USMLE
  • MRCS
  • Thesis
©2025 Epomedicine . All rights reserved.